Here are 10 more players to look out for when MLS 2016 kicks off on Sunday.
1. Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders)
The 21-year-old reportedly turned down an offer from Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen in order to play in Seattle.
Morris left Stanford University over the summer and has already been capped nine times by the American national side. The midfielder is without doubt an existing prospect and it will be fascinating to see how he does in his first professional season.
2. Shkelzen Gashi (Colorado Rapids)
Colorado may well have finally found the player to end their goal scoring woes. Gashi was the top goalscorer in the Swiss Premier League in the past two seasons whilst playing for Grasshopper Zurich and FCBasel.
Rapids fans will be hoping that Gashi will be able to link up with Kevin Doyle and provide a long awaited prolific strike force at the club. Gashi will also be seen at this summer’s European Championships after Albania pulled off an unlikely qualification.
3. Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
The 25-year-old center backed ensured stability in the FC Dallas defense last year as Oscar Pareja’s side finished top of the Western Conference. Hedges’ performances last season led to him being named in the MLS Best XI and he was shortlisted for Defender of the Year.
Many pundits felt that Hedges was unlucky to not get a call up for the United States National team in January and this rejection could spur him on to even better things in the upcoming season.
4. Kelyn Rowe (New England)
Rowe had another productive season when he equaled his league goal scoring record by netting seven times from attacking midfield.
The 24-year-old still has time on his side and New England fans will be hoping that this could be the season where Rowe really puts his name in the limelight.
5. Jack Harrison (NYCFC)
The Stoke-On-Trent born midfielder was picked first in this year’s SuperDraft after impressing whilst playing for Wake Forrest University.
Although Harrison may not play regularly at the beginning of the season he will certainly benefit from the guidance of players such as Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard as well as the coaching expertise of Patrick Viera.
6. David Accam (Chicago Fire)
The 25-year-old striker had an impressive first season in Chicago last year scoring 10 goals in 24 games. This form reportedly attracted the interest of a number of European clubs.
Accam has five Ghana caps and scored his first ever international goal against Mauritius in June of last year.
7. Tranquillo Barnetta (Philadelphia Union)
The Swiss international joined Philadelphia midway through last season and struggled to make too much of an impression. However the 30-year-old has undoubted pedigree after racking up almost 200 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and 75 international caps.
8. Yura Movsisyan (Real Salt Lake)
The Armenian international joined RSL on loan from Spartak Moscow over the off season and will be hoping to show the form that he demonstrated during his first spell with the club.
In truth the 28-year-old has had a decent scoring record at every club he has been at and he netted 25 goals in 62 games during his injury hit spell in Moscow/
9. Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes)
The 22-year-old came runner up to Cyle Larin for last season’s Rookie of the Year award and will hope to build on an extremely productive first professional season.
The defender’s performances were rewarded with a call up to the United States national side in January.
10. Drew Moor (Toronto)
Toronto had no problem finding the net last season with both Sebastian Giovinco and Jose Altidore in prolific form. However the Canadian side found defending slightly more challenging.
The signing of the former Colorado Captain could therefore be a very important move. The center back will link up with former teammate Clint Irwin to try and make Toronto a much harder side to score against.
