FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow will have a decision to make on the left side of his back four for this Sunday's Lone Star State clash with Houston Dynamo, as left back Chris Gbandi will miss the game due to national team duty.
Gbandi will be with Liberia for that country's African Nations' Cup qualifier against Cameroon and so will miss the first meeting this season against his hometown club.
Morrow's choice will come down to veteran David Wagenfuhr or second-year defender Blake Wagner, with Wagenfuhr the likely choice.
Wagenfuhr started two of the first three games at left back for the Hoops this season. But the Creighton University product hasn't played with the first team since suffering his third concussion in less than a year in a 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on April 15.
"I feel 100 percent and have no problems at all," Wagenfuhr said. "I have only played in the reserve games since then (and am ready to come back). I don't want (the concussions) to change how I play or anything like that. We have talked to doctors and the tests all came back normal and there weren't any long-term symptoms. Right now, it's really not a concern."
Wagenfuhr has played in the last few reserve games for the Hoops and in Sunday's game against the Chivas USA reserves, he netted a pair of goals. The Colorado native is clearly ready to make his return to league play.
"I was still concerned for a week or so after (his concussion) and wanted him to play in a few reserve games and start to feel comfortable and confident again," he said. "He played 90 minutes against Kansas and Chivas in the reserves. I thought he looked very good on Sunday. It's a matter of getting him a few games to get his confidence up and help get his fitness back. He and Blake Wagner will be competing for that spot."
Wagner is a 19-year-old Generation adidas player who was a second round pick (18th overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He has yet to play with the FCD first team but played well in the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup game against Columbus during preseason. He has started all four games for the FCD reserves so far this year.
While Wagner appears too inexperienced to yet hit the field against first team competition, Morrow likes what he has seen from his young back so far.
"I think he's certainly progressed (since preseason)," Morrow said. "He's looked very, very good on the practice field most of the time. He knows that he has to develop the consistency in his game, which for the most part, he has done. I think he's going to be a good player. He's still young and needs to develop. At some time, he's going to need his chance to play."
After Wagner's preseason appearance against Columbus, Morrow said that overall he was impressed but that he saw some inconsistency that goes along with young players. The FCD boss admits he has seen less of that so far this season.
"I do (see less inconsistency)," Morrow said. "On the practice field, I see less of it. For the most part, the consistency has gotten better."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
