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MLS Ticker: Hollingshead injured in car accident, Sporting KC sings winger and more

Photo by Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports
Photo by Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

One of FC Dallas’ most versatile players is set to miss an extended period of time following a car accident.

Ryan Hollingshead was struck directly by a car on Friday night while providing roadside assistance to another vehicle wrecked by icy conditions. The accident saw Hollingshead suffer fractures to three different cervical vertebrae that will require a neckbrace for six to eight weeks. However, the injury will not require surgery.

“The entire FC Dallas family is thinking of Ryan and his wife, Taylor,” said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt. “We are praying for a swift recovery and are looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch for our club.”

SPORTING KC ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF BLESSING

Sporting Kansas City continued to bolster its depth in midfield in the transfer window, as it started off Draft Week with the signing of a young winger from Ghana. The club announced the signing of 20-year-old Latif Blessing from Liberty Professionals FC in Ghana.

“The great thing we love about him is that he is young, but with a lot of upside as evidence by his goal scoring record with his previous club,” Sporting Kansas City boss Peter Vermes said. “With every player you acquire, you always feel they have potential, but we also think he has a great attitude, and we think he has the ability to reach his potential with our club.”

Blessing has an MLS contract through 2019, with an option for the 2020 season. The same length was given to winger Gerso Fernandes a week ago. Blessing was a part of Ghana’s 30-man provisional roster for the 2017 African Cup of Nations, but missed out on making the squad. 2016 was his first season with the Liberty Professionals first team. He found the back of the net on 17 occasions and was a finalist for the Ghanaian FA Cup MVP.

Galaxy name trio of assistants

The LA Galaxy’s coaching staff is starting to take shape.

According to ESPN, the Galaxy are set to name Seattle Sounders assistant Ante Razov, Galaxy II assistant Rob Becerra, and Galaxy II goalkeeper coach Daniel Gonzalez to the club’s coaching staff. The trio will join head coach Curt Onalfo, who took over for Bruce Arena last month.

Arena brought his entire coaching staff with him to the U.S. Men’s National Team.

“I want to hear everybody’s opinion, I want to be challenged,” Onalfo told ESPN. “That’s the way to push the bar, and in all those instances, they have the ability to coach and our philosophy is to make everybody better. In our league, you have to maximize the potential of every player on the roster. That’s the job of the coaching staff to get out of them, whether it’s technically stuff to get everybody to improve, or psychologically.

“My management style is I believe in people. If I don’t like it, they’ll hear about it. But I feel great about the staff we’ve assembled.”

Melano reportedly headed out of Portland

One of the much-maligned players over the last two seasons in MLS might not be around to improve his reputation in 2017. Portland Timbers winger Lucas Melano appears set for an exit from the club to Argentina’s Atletico Belgrano.

Signed as a designated player during the 2015 season, Melano never lived up to the expectations of being a dynamic playmaker alongside Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe. The 23-year-old totaled four goals and eight assists in 44 matches for the Timbers.

Union add English forward

Business is beginning to ramp up for the Philadelphia Union after a quiet December. The club announced its second signing of the transfer window on Monday in the form of English forward Jay Simpson, who most recently played at Leyton Orient.

The 27-year-old journeyman striker joins C.J. Sapong, Charlie Davies and Fabian Herbers as forwards on the roster. If need be, Simpson can play out on the wing in Jim Curtin’s 4-2-3-1 system. The acquisition comes a few days after the Union inked defender Giliano Wijnaldum to a deal.

Harkes to make professional decision soon

Fresh off winning the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy, Wake Forest senior Ian Harkes will announce his professional plans soon. Harkes has an option to join MLS as a homegrown player with D.C. United, or he could move abroad and test his skill in Europe.

Harkes racked up a plethora of honors during his final collegiate season, and he is a coveted prospect by D.C. United, who are looking to add a building block for the future in the middle of the park.

Kronberg back for another season in Montreal

Montreal Impact made a minor move on Monday by re-signing goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. The former Sporting Kansas City player has been the backup to Evan Bush in his two years in Quebec. He is expected to fill the same role in 2017.

Quick Kicks

Paraguyan striker Cristian Colman is in talks with an unspecified MLS club.

Sporting Kansas City has reportedly made a contract offer to 24-year-old Polish midfielder Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Honduran forward Diego Reyes could be on his way to San Jose as the Earthquakes’ latest signing.

The Colorado Rapids have shown interest in Ghanaian Gilbert Koomson, who plays for Sogndal in Norway.

Comments

  1. “arena brought his entire coaching staff with him to the us men’s national team.”

    can’t wait to see ian harkes on the field as a pro. a little like dad?

    expecting onalfo to be a huge bust for la

    Reply

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