When Red Bulls forward Edson Buddle scored his first goal of the year in the team's opening game against D.C. United - a match that ended in a 2-2 tie - he was the first MLS player to score in his New York debut since Mamadou Diallo in 2002. Things looked bright for the striker.
However, so far this season, Buddle, who has scored at least nine goals in each of his last three seasons, has been nagged by a hamstring injury that he first sustained in a 0-0 draw with Chivas on April 29.
It is still early in the season, and in watching practice, it is clear why head coach Mo Johnston acquired him for Eddie Gaven in late March. In shooting drills, Buddle is one of the team's best finishers and has the ability to hold the ball up in the attacking third.
Though Buddle came on as a 67th minute substitute in the Red Bulls' 1-1 tie against Kansas City last week, Johnston said that the forward did not see more minutes because they are saving him for the rest of the season and he was not completely match fit. So what's Buddle's status against the visiting Houston Dynamo on Saturday?
"We're using him this week," Johnston said.
Langley, Jansen train with team
Richard Langley, a 26-year-old Jamaican midfielder, and Matt Jansen, a 28-year-old forward who played for English Premiership side Bolton last year, trained with New York this week as Johnston had a look at both players for his squad.
"We're looking at every area of the field, but I'd like to shore up the defense," Johnston said. "I need another guy in the middle. We have some money to spend and three foreign spots open."
Jansen was an England youth international and had his best season in 2000-01, when he scored 23 goals and helped his team, Blackburn, earn promotion to the Premier League. His form caught his national team's eye and he was later called up to play in a pre-World Cup friendly.
However, since then, Jansen has struggled ever since he was part of a motorcycle accident. After being released from Blackburn earlier this year, he appeared in six games for Bolton.
In regards to the Red Bulls players, he said, "They seem like a good bunch of lads and I look forward to [training]."
Langley, who is out-of-contract after playing for English Championship squad Queens Park Rangers after playing in 23 games and scoring three goals, said that he came to New York to explore his possibilities.
"I've just come to have a look, look at the facilities and I'm impressed so far," Langley said. "I'm just not closing out any options in terms of my career. I'm keeping an eye open to everything really."
Langley said he discussed MLS with other former and current league players including former New York defender Craig Ziadie, Damani Ralph and Tyrone Marshall. Though he is unsure of his future, he is impressed with the players who have come out of the U.S. woodwork.
"There are obviously a few playing in England who are very talented," said Langley, who noted Americans including Eddie Lewis and Cory Gibbs. "Hopefully it can become a bigger sport here and Americans will become a force in years to come.
Magee rejoins training
New York midfielder/forward Mike Magee participated in a whole week of practices and intra-squad scrimmages starting last Tuesday. The 21-year-old underwent finger surgery recovery last week (dislocated in a 4-1 loss to D.C. United on April 22) - the latest in a long line of injury problems that he has faced this year.
After a promising preseason camp in which he scored a team-high four goals, Magee had suffered sprains on both of his ankles during the squad's current campaign, both of which caused him to miss valuable time. Johnston said that Magee is working himself back into match fitness and the Red Bull just wants to get himself healthy and ready to compete for his spot.
"At this point, I just want to get back onto the field," said Magee, who most recently played as a substitute in a 2-1 loss to Dallas on May 20. "I have just been able to practice now, it's the first time I've been able to train two days consecutively in a while and I just look forward to playing."
Henderson: The new foul king
In New York's 1-1 draw at Kansas City last Saturday, Red Bulls midfielder Chris Henderson, who has played the most games in Major League Soccer with 293, broke a more dubious milestone.
He is now the league's all-time leader in fouls committed with 452.
And the person he passed? Current New York assistant coach Richie Williams.
"I look at that and it's a joke in the locker room [because of Richie]," Henderson said. "For me, part of it is how many games I played. If you have played enough games in the league, you're bound to be high on a lot of stats lists. I just like to go out and compete every game."
Williams' reaction?
"I have no reaction," he said.
