When midfielder Devon McTavish replaced an injured Dominic Mediate in Wednesday’s win over Chicago, he made the first appearance by any of D.C. United’s rookies this season.
With little roster turnover and United off to its best start in team history, younger players have found it difficult to get even a sniff of first-team action. But the arrival of summer’s busy schedule should spur a little more variety in D.C.’s lineups.
“Coming in here and playing for five months and not even seeing the field, you definitely get frustrated, but eventually you know the time’s going to come,” said McTavish. “You just have to take advantage of it when it does.”
Second-year forward Matt Nickell, who has played in just one match this season and five in his career, knows the departure of Lucio Filomeno provide an opportunity.
“You never know when you’re going to get the opportunity, that was proven [Wednesday] night with Devon,” said Nickell. “I’ve been dressing so every day I’ve got to be ready and just keep working hard.”
United notes
After crashing out of the World Cup, the U.S. national team was scheduled to leave Germany on Friday. That means D.C. United’s Ben Olsen, as well as the Wizards’ Eddie Johnson, Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff, could be available for tonight’s match.
The leg injury suffered by D.C. forward Jaime Moreno on Wednesday turned out to be just a bruise. Moreno should be available on Saturday. Mediate, who left the Chicago match in the first half with a concussion, did not train Thursday.
Kansas City Wizards (6-4-2) at D.C. United (8-1-5)
» Where: RFK Stadium
» When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
» TV: Comcast SportsNet
» Radio: WMET-1160 AM, WACA-1540 AM
