PURCHASE, N.Y. – In Cyle Larin, New York City FC coach Patrick Vieira hopes to see Jack Harrison’s future.
Larin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, hasn’t missed a beat after a record-breaking season in which he set a new mark for goals by a rookie with 17. The Orlando City SC forward is again among the league leaders in goals, with 13 in 24 games.
“I like him a lot. I don’t think his performance dropped at all,” Vieira said of Larin. “He’s a really mobile, athletic player who can play his back against the goal, who can score goals, he’s a really interesting player. I like him a lot. He’s a really good player.”
Harrison, the top selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, had a slow start to his rookie season after being sidelined for four months with a pelvic injury. But the 19-year-old has been a revelation since making his debut in May, scoring on his first start and being a constant threat on the left side of Vieira’s three-man frontline.
After struggling in 36 minutes off the bench in a 3-3 draw with Columbus Crew SC, Harrison bounced back with a strong performance in a 1-0 win over the LA Galaxy Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
“I think he’s like every rookie. You have a period where you doing really well and then because of the lack of experience and the physicality of MLS, you get a time when physically you get a little bit tired,” Vieira said. “This is the way that we have to manage the players. But, they are young so I’m not worried at all.”
Vieira has reason to be concerned about Larin. The Canadian international has scored six goals in four appearances against NYCFC, including the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Yankee Stadium on March 18. He also set up Kevin Molino’s equalizer deep into stoppage time in a 2-2 draw on May 29 in the Bronx.
“Cyle is a pure goal scorer,” NYCFC fullback RJ Allen said. “We have a lot of respect for him and he’s done pretty well against us, scored quite a few goals. We’re going to have to be sharp in the back and hopefully we can get another zero.”
