FCD Gambles On Rowland

FC Dallas has announced the acquisition of forward Jeff Rowland, who signed a senior developmental deal with the club prior to Monday's roster freeze deadline.Rowland, 24, was selected second overall in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft by Real Salt Lake, but never played a game for them after tearing his right ACL in preseason. After sitting out the entire '06 season, Rowland looked ready for a return in Utah the following year, only to experience the same injury once again, causing him to miss all of the '07 campaign.

"It was a tough experience at first because you go down," said Rowland. "I wanted to be in MLS and had to go down. It was really hard, the rehab was just two straight years of rehab. Mentally, it was tough at times and draining.

"When you're off for that long, you realize how much you love the game and how much it means to you to be out there, compete, work your hardest day-in and day-out to get those opportunities."

Rowland was released by RSL in February of this year and joined up with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division, where he scored five goals in 18 games with the club. His performance there earned him a tryout with FCD, and coach Schellas Hyndman apparently liked what he saw, signing the striker to a contract.

"He was a very good player at New Mexico," said Hyndman. "He's a solid post-up striker, very strong. He's a good finisher and is something we don't really have now, somebody who can hold the ball in the penalty box and lay balls off. I thought that with where we are right now in our year, this is a great opportunity to look at him. Instead of looking at him when he's out of shape, let's look at him when he comes right off a season."

* photo courtesy WilmingtonHammerheads.com