Elías Scores, Chicharito Sits, and Nery is going to Greece

West Ham United's Pablo Barrera, right, controls the ball away from Barnsley's Matt Hill during the English FA Cup third round soccer match at Upton Park, London, Saturday Jan. 8, 2011. West Ham won 2-0. (AP Photo/PA, Matthew Impey) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO INTERNET/MOBILE USAGE WITHOUT FAPL LICENCE - SEE IPTC SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FIELD FOR DETAILS (AP2011)

A weekly recap of how Mexican internationals fared in weekend matches:

Carlos Vela

Mexican international Carlos Vela did not dress for Arsenal for its 3-0 triumph over Wigan in an English Premier League match at Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday. But there was a good reason for it.

There is a pretty decent chance the 21-year-old forward will be loaned out to another club by the Gunners this month.

“There is much interest in [Vela] for a loan, that is what I want to do," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club website. "We have plenty of clubs who are interested in him. At the end of the day I look for a guarantee [that he will play]. For him, he has as well to agree to join the club who wants him."

Vela has started only three games and played only 10 games this season, finding the back of the next three times. He is too good of a talent not to play regularly.

Javier Hernández

Chicharito did not dress for Manchester United's 5-0 home rout of Birmingham City, extending the club's EPL unbeaten streak to 22 games.

His most recent appearance was in Manu's scoreless tie with Tottenham on Saturday, Jan. 15. He came on as a 78th-minute sub for Dimitar Berbatov. While he did not score, Hernández made a key defensive contribution, going toe-to-toe with Aaron Lennon in the United penalty area in the waning minutes to deny a scoring opportunity.

Hernández, 22, has scored nine goals in 24 matches this season (11 starts). That includes six goals in 15 EPL appearances (seven starts).

Elías Hernández

The 22-year-old Hernández put the exclamation point with the final goal in stoppage time of Morelia's 3-0 triumph at Queretaro in the Mexican Clausura.

Héctor Moreno

Moreno, a central defender, returned from a suspension and played the full 90 minutes to help Alkmaar Zaanstreek to a scoreless tie at Heracles Almelo in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Andrés Guardado

Guardado returned to training with Deportivo Coruna on Thursday after missing action due to leg muscle pulls. Team doctors did not allow the 23-year-old left wing to play against Real Zaragoza in Spain's La Liga, so Guardado would not suffer a relapse.

Nery Castillo

Castillo, a forward, will return to the country of his greatest success -- Greece. A big bust for the Chicago Fire after he was loaned to the Major League Soccer club by Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Castill will join Aris F.C. on a six-month loan. The Fire will retain the option for a permanent transfer after the loan.

The 26-year-old Castillo, who joined the Fire on July 17, did not record a goal or an assist while starting six games and playing in eight over 487 minutes.

“This is a great opportunity for Nery to get consistent playing time on the field and we look forward to monitoring his progress in the coming months,” Fire technical director Frank Klopas said.

Castillo will wear No. 77 with Aris and will be a teammate of former Los Angeles Galaxy star and Guatemalan international Carlos Ruíz.

At the age of 16 in 2000, Castillo kicked off his pro career with Olympiakos FC. He struck for 30 goals in 105 matches for the Greek side through 2007 before he was sold to the Ukrainian team.

Rafa Márquez

The Mexican captain reported to the New York Red Bulls for his MLS physical and fitness test Thursday. Márquez, a central midfielder-central defender, was scheduled to leave Sunday to train with Atlas in the Mexican First Division before rejoining the Red Bulls for the first part of their pre-season training in Mexico in February.

Carlos Salcido

Salcido, a defender, sat the bench as he was not used as a substitute in Fulham FC's 2-0 win over Stoke City in the EPL. He has played 11 games at left fullback this season.

Giovani dos Santos

Dos Santos, a 21-year-old forward, did not dress for Tottenham for its 1-1 EPL draw with Newcastle United. He has played only three times this season.

Pablo Barrera

Barrera, a midfielder, sat the bench the entire game for West Ham United, which played Everton FC to a 2-2 EPL draw. He most recently came on in the 64th minute to replace Freddie Sears in the 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Jan. 15.

Francisco Javier Rodríguez

Rodríguez, a 29-year-old defender, did not dress for PSV Eindhoven's match with VVV-Venlo. He has played 11 games, scoring once in the Dutch First Division.

Efraín Juárez

The first Mexican to sign for Celtic, the 22-year-old midfielder did not dress for its 1-0 Scottish Premier League win over Aberdeen. He has made nine appearances, starting five while scoring five goals.

Former National Team coaches

Javier Aguirre, who twice was called in to salvage Mexico's World Cup qualifying chances for the 2002 and 2006 competitions, coached Real Zaragoza to a 1-0 win over Deportivo Coruna. He was named Real coach on Nov. 17.

Ricardo La Volpe, an Argentine who guided El Tri from 2002-2006, directed Costa Rica into the Copa Centroamericana final against Honduras in Panama City, Panama on Sunday.

Michael Lewis has covered international soccer for more than three decades. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com.