Burns beginning to show potential for Columbus

Young Crew midfielder looks sharp in first action since surgery

 

OBETZ, Ohio – Columbus Crew coach Robert Warzycha said five weeks ago that he did not know how good Kevin Burns could be because his career had been stymied by injuries.

 

Recent performances by a healthy Burns could change Warzycha’s opinion. The 25-year-old UConn alum has recovered from sports-hernia surgery in June to put himself in contention for the central midfield position in front of Brian Carroll.

 

“You like him to push the other players,” Warzycha said of Burns. “He’s playing pretty good soccer right now so it makes us think about the lineup. He’s making a good contribution.

 

“It makes you think who is going to start and he is one of the candidates for that spot. It’s not only good for the club, it’s good for him,” he added.

 

Burns, selected in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft, started and scored his first career goal in his 23rd game through all competitions when he put the Crew ahead 1-0 in the US Open Cup final on Oct. 5, a game won by Seattle 2-1.

 

“Anytime you can get a goal from the midfield, it’s a bonus,” Carroll said. “It gave us a lift but, unfortunately, we weren’t able to follow through and get a second.”

 

Burns was supposed to be rested three days later at Chicago, but he replaced Adam Moffat at halftime of the 2-0 defeat and was the Crew’s best threat.

 

“He was a dangerous player when he came in,” Warzycha said.