BRADENTON, Fla. – Of the five new faces that joined the New York Red Bulls in camp over the last week, only winger Dane Richards can say he’s in a familiar setting.
Prior to being traded to Vancouver for Sebastian Le Toux in July 2012, Richards’ six years with the Red Bulls saw him amass 147, second-most all-time at the club. Even after two and a half seasons that have seen him go to English side Burnley and help club Bodø/Glimt earn promotion to the Norwegian Tippeligaen, Richards the trialist returns to camp still holding that distinction.
“It’s a good feeling [to be back with the guys],” he humbly told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “I was away, not getting any work with the guys. It feels good, I’m happy to be here and I’m looking forward to keep practicing.”
While he wasn’t getting work with the Red Bulls, Richards was still active this preseason, spending time earlier this month with the Whitecaps in Tucson, Ariz.
Known for his deft speed and ability to thwart defenders down the flanks, Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch wanted to take his own measure of where the Jamaican international was at in this camp.
“Dane has qualities that could fit into the way we want to play,” he said. “Obviously he has experiences here – I think his time here was good for him and the club. We’re talking a look at him and knowing there’s potential for him to be available and how it might fit.”
A part of the club’s run to the MLS Cup final in 2008, Richards served as a good compliment to the host of other attacking players, tallying 21 goals and 24 assists in his previous stint with the club. Still, if he does fit in with Marsch’s system, the team will need to work something out with Vancouver, who held on to the Jamaican’s right of first refusal in MLS after he left on a free transfer to Burnley in January 2013.
Richards, who admitted he’s still trying to gain match fitness after playing his last game at the beginning of November, says he’s not letting that part enter his mind yet.
“My mind is not on a contract my mind is on playing well and eventually things will fall into place. Right now I’m just focused on training hard.”
While it’s too early to tell where this story will lead, the next two weeks will see the side play four matches at the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic, beginning Wednesday vs. Danish side HB Køge (5pm ET on NewYorkRedBulls.com).
