ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – New York City FC coach Dome Torrent insists he has options with his starting XI when his squad takes on Columbus Crew SC Saturday (8 pm ET | TV & Streaming info), but there are far fewer than he would like.
On Wednesday he confirmed Jesus Medina (hamstring) and Jo Inge Berget (adductor) would be out for at least 2-3 weeks, while central defender Alex Callens trained on the side as he rehabbed his injured knee. On the injury front, the one bit of positive news is winger Valentin Castellanos is fully fit and available for selection.
NYCFC will also be without central midfielders Ebenezer Ofori and Eloi Amagat to suspension after both were sent off in a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls last Wednesday.
Ofori particularly has been impressive in filling the void left by Yangel Herrera, who is out indefinitely recovering from ankle surgery.
So how will Torrent construct his midfield to combat what is likely a combination of Federico Higuain, Pedro Santos, Wil Trapp and Artur?
One possibility is the way NYCFC lined up in a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on August 4, where Alex Ring sat in front of the back four as the lone defensive midfielder.
“We can play in that same way against Columbus because right now we have a lot of problems with our midfielders,” Torrent said on Wednesday. “Ring can play the No. 6 and maybe Maxi [Moralez] or another player can play the No. 10 and No. 8, but I’m not sure the best way to play. Tomorrow I decide the best way to play against Columbus.”
In a 2-0 win over the Crew on July 14 at Yankee Stadium, Torrent had Ring and Ofori in their usual positions, but he brought on Kwame Awuah in the 65th minute to man-mark Higuain.
Could the 22-year-old Canadian be in line for his second MLS start?
“Why not? Because when I decide that Kwame is ready to play, I know that Kwame can play in that way,” Torrent said. “Why not? He has the same opportunities as other players, like [Jonathan Lewis], like Tommy [McNamara]. … It’s an opportunity for Kwame, why not?”
Torrent said in the first meeting this season Santos and Higuain were particularly dangerous and created problems for NYCFC.
“For me the most important is when they play with Santos and Higuain especially in between the lines,” Torrent said. “Of course Trapp and Artur are good players, but here against us we had a lot of problems especially with Higuain and Santos when they decide to go inside and play in between the lines.”
Then there is the aforementioned combination of Trapp and Artur, who form one of the best midfield partnerships in the league.
“Trapp and Artur work very well off each other,” NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson said. “It’s all about working off the movement of defenders and creating space for your teammates. If you do both at the same time, your awareness has to be through the roof and I think those types of players are the most engaged players.”
