FC Dallas' Purdy ready to return to pitch
Defender to replace suspended Moor at right back in starting XI
Besides Moor, two other players have started on the right side this year, Michael Dello Russo (two starts) and Marcelo Saragosa (five starts). However both players are no longer with FCD. Dello Russo was released last week, just days after Saragosa was traded to Chivas USA for Atiba Harris.
Enter Steve Purdy, who has spent much of this season on the sidelines with injuries to his right knee and right hamstring. Purdy has played in five games, four of them starts for FCD but all of his action came in the central defense. However, he does have experience on the right flank.
"I played it like five years ago with the U-20s a little bit but I'd say it's been a while," Purdy said. "I really haven't had a chance to play in that position much. I had a chance (in a friendly) against Comunicaciones but that was the first time in a long time and they just threw me in. I think once I find my rhythm and figure out the right positioning to use in certain situations, I'll be all right. I'm still trying to find my true fitness on the field. I was out for many weeks but other than that, I feel all right and confident."
Purdy's last start came on May 16 against Seattle Sounders FC when he had to leave the field at the half because of an injured right knee. It has been a long road back for the University of California product.
"It's tough because I haven't had the chance to play 90, so it's hard to say (if I can go the distance)," he said. "Against Comunicaciones, I played 75 and the second half was kind of hard fitness. But I've been working hard outside of training to reach my fitness. We'll see how it goes. If I do play this weekend, if he has to make a change then they're going to have to take me out a little bit earlier."
FCD captain and center back Pablo Ricchetti knows his club loses a lot without Moor on the field, but he has confidence that Purdy is up to the challenge.
"Drew can cross and go forward a little more," Ricchetti said. "Steve is more of a defensive player. He's strong in the one-v-ones but we don't have many right backs and had to put somebody there. I think he's the best option right now."
Head coach Schellas Hyndman also has faith in Purdy.
"He had a great preseason with us and then injuries and confidence were a factor," Hyndman said. "So with Drew (Moor) out, he is our best option unless we want to put a left-footed player over there, which I don't think is necessary."
The FCD coach clearly wants to see something from his young defender who has been injured for much of the year.
"I think it's not just him, it's others," Hyndman said. "Whether it's (Alvaro) Sanchez, (Daniel) Torres or George John, we've had so many constant injuries with those guys. We're not sitting where we want to sit. It's an opportunity now to evaluate players for their true value."
Purdy realizes this might be one of his final chances to impress Hyndman and secure a spot on the roster for next year.
"The season has been kind of hard for me so far with injuries," he said. "I think this is pretty much a trial for next year. I've got to use this time, take it for what it's worth, give it my all and hopefully Schellas and the coaching staff will see the potential in me and what I can really do on the right and also at center back."
A center back by trade, Purdy knows playing on the right means making several key adjustments to his game.
"There are a lot more one-v-ones on the outside," he said. "You have to work more with the sideline too. Other than that, you've got to keep the same principles as a center back. I have to use my strengths as a center back and apply that to right back."
Luckily, he has two great resources he can draw from in Moor and Ricchetti.
"Drew has been playing pretty well at that position," Purdy said. "He was kind of in my situation where he was more of a true center back and he adjusted to right back. I've been watching him and looking at his good habits as a right back to use that in my own game."
FCD's captain is also a valuable source of information.
"He (Ricchetti) is great," Purdy said. "His experience is obviously amazing and his demeanor is always positive. He's always giving me instruction. It's been good so far."
The news is not so positive at center back, where rookie George John re-aggravated an injured hamstring at RSL and came off at the break for Daniel Torres. John will remain on the shelf for at least one more week, maybe longer.
"I think we're just going to have to give him time off," Hyndman said. "This has been a rollercoaster for him. It's been a rollercoaster for me, the coaches and for the team. All you've got to do is look at the difference between the first and second half the other day. He's a pretty good player for us. We'll give him a week off and see if he's able to go and how he's doing. Maybe it will be two weeks. It's pretty frustrating and discouraging. It's the same hamstring he injured in the Open Cup game with D.C."
Hyndman offered a simple explanation why he brought on Torres over Kyle Davies, who has shown well for himself in previous action in the central defense.
"Kyle got injured in training (late last week)," the FCD coach said. "He had a foot injury and we kept him out of training. That was the whole decision."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
