He's played just 46 minutes over the course of two games since being signed by the New York Red Bulls, but Francis Doe has already become a fan favorite in New York.
But the Liberian forward says what the fans saw of him in the Red Bulls' 1-0 win against Chicago last Saturday, when he provided pace off the bench, was just the tip of the iceberg.
"You're going to see a lot more Sunday," said Doe, who scored eight goals in 34 games over two seasons in Greece. "That's part of my game, taking people on."
So what else should we expect of the youth international who goes by the nickname "Grandpa"?
"Everything," he said.
Doe, who had been training with the Red Bulls for a month since his contract ran out with Greek Super League side Atromitos FC, could make his first MLS start Sunday when the Red Bulls head to The Home Depot Center to take on Chivas USA.
With Jozy Altidore set to miss his second consecutive game with a left calf strain and Dane Richards suspended because of a yellow card accumulation, Doe could start either on the right side of midfield or up top next to Juan Pablo Angel, who is two goals away from tying the Red Bulls' record for goals in a season set by fellow Colombian international Adolfo Valencia in 2000.
"I think I can make the first XI depending on my game," Doe said. "I will do my best in LA and if I gain a position on the team, I think I can stay."
But Doe's not the only option. Arena could decide to move Clint Mathis out wide, or even use Mike Magee in that position. Both players could also play up top, as can veteran John Wolyniec, who started against the Fire.
"It's certainly one of the deepest teams I've played on," Wolyniec said. "You know through the course of a year you're going to lose guys to suspensions and injuries and having a deep team like that, you don't miss a step when these things arise."
The Red Bulls are more comfortable going to the West Coast after snapping a two-game losing streak by beating Chicago 1-0 last Saturday at Giants Stadium. With the win, the Red Bulls moved three points ahead of Kansas City in third place in the Eastern Conference.
"The closer we get to the playoffs, the more relaxed we can get and the freer we can play," Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna said. "If we don't get three points (vs. Chicago), we go there with a little more pressure."
A win against Chivas could add even more separation for New York and the rest of the pack below them in the East.
"That's the name of the game over the last seven, eight games," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said. "Obviously (Chivas is) not a conference opponent, but it still keeps us in position to have a little breathing room, so it's important to get a result."
Chivas is a confident team, too. The Red-and-White are alone in second place in the West, two points behind Houston with three games in hand. On MLS Primetime Thursday, Chivas rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to play East leaders D.C. United to a 2-2 draw at The Home Depot Center.
"They're definitely a confident side at home and it's going to be tough points for us to get," Wolyniec said. "But we need them and we're also a confident side and feel we can match up well against them."
The key to Chivas, which earned their first win ever against the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on July 26, is the team's defensive shape, led by Claudio Suarez.
"The issue against Chivas I think is getting after them and putting some pressure on their backline, because they don't give up that many goals," Arena said. "Claudio Suarez has demonstrated that still in the last year of his career, he's still an outstanding player, [Brad] Guzan has been very good in the goal and we have to put them under pressure."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
