Jack McInerney to Prove to the Portland Timbers: “I’m not even close to my prime”

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Tony Samboras, Oregon Sports News

Jack Mclnerney has been playing for the MLS for six long years. For the teams Mclnerney has played for, he’s always been a starter, a position not every other player has had the luck to stay in.

However, with the Portland Timbers, Jack McInerney's case is different. After signing up with the MLS Cup championship, he believes that there are a lot of minutes to go around.

Jack’s trail of thought follows Fanendo Adi’s 60 appearances in two seasons for the team as a starter.

Jack McInerney is set to fill in Maximiliano Urruti’s position. And in a phone interview with MLSsoccer.com, Jack was quoted saying that he signed with the Timbers because he is confident about playing a bigger role.

McInerney took the reporter down memory lane trip and reminded him of Urruti’s stats in 2015’s 12 games in the league where he started for the team.

Jack suggests that the Timbers in 2016 are participating in the Open Cup and CONCACAF leagues, and he will have plenty of opportunities to start for his new team.

Jack McInerney's Journey

Since 2013, a year in which he managed to net in 12 career-high goals registering 25 career-high starts and appearing a record 31 times with the Philadelphia Union, Mclnerney was usually a first-choice player.

In 2015, however, things took a turn for worse, and Mclnerney only managed to bag in four goals in seventeen games. He started in thirteen games with Montreal and was later traded to Columbus where he managed to start in two games out of five.

Despite his not so favorable recent form, Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter is entrusting Mclnerney to become a stellar player once again. Porter’s trust in him stems from his days as his coach during the 2012 US under 23 Olympic qualifying team.

Caleb Porter in an interview said that he is looking to have multiple starting strikers. To show his support to Mclnerney, Porter stated that he has a lot of time and opportunities to fill in Urruti’s position as the latter has the spirit and the form of two starters.

Jack’s Off To A Good Start

Caleb Porter was quick to add that Jack McInerney ensured that he made himself known and loved by his new squad by netting in two goals during Portland Timbers second preseason match.

The Timbers registered a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Feb 6th. Porter is pleased with McInerney’s two goals and in particular with how he was able to superbly score them.

Jack McInerney's ability to lurk in the opposing team’s penalty area as he makes runs behind the defense the Portland Timbers are now less predictable adds Porter.

Caleb Porter said that unlike Urruti, Jack McInerney is a player giving the coach options. Now, Porter suggests that he can use McInerney as a late-game spark and also use him as a depth player for the CONCACAF and US Open Cup leagues.

Moreover, Porter can use the versatile McInerney as a starter in some tactical situations and in matches where the squad turnover is profound!

Conclusion

Given the strong backing Jack McInerney is getting from head coach Caleb Porter, he will need to step up to the plate. We now sit and focus on his strengths and see whether he will improve on his weaknesses.

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The Portland Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the MLS Cup final on this error by the Columbus Crew goaltender Steve Clark and a goal by Diego Valeri The goal took 28 seconds to score and is the fastest in MLS Cup history.