There has been a revolving door of player movement with Toronto FC in 2013, as first time head coach Ryan Nelsen continues to tweak a roster he took over at the beginning of the season.
None of those moves have been more representative of the Reds season than the recent trade of young forward Maximiliano Urruti, who was moved to Portland after just 16 games in Toronto.
However, TFC’s return on the deal, forward Bright Dike, has been one of only a few bright spots as the 2013 season comes to a close.
In six games, four as a starter, Dike has managed one goal and seven shots, but his influence on a game is not measured by goals alone.
Currently in his third season in MLS, Dike is a big body presence in front of goal that can win the physical battles with defenders.
He is a classic type target man in Major League Soccer, in a similar mold as a Kenny Cooper of Dallas, and can hold up the ball as well as he can turn and shoot.
After a 2012 season that saw the former University of Notre Dame striker score five goals in just 12 appearances with Portland, cementing his place as a starter with the Timbers, he tore his ACL in a preseason match and had not seen game action until his move to TFC in early September.
Dike is looking to re-establish himself as a starter in this league and one final solid performance in 2013 for TFC might do just that, Saturday afternoon against the Impact.
