Andy Najar's second MLS season hasn't begun like his first. The Honduran-born midfielder came out of nowhere to win a starting job for D.C. United and eventually earn 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year honors.

He was in the news recently for his announcement that he'll represent Honduras, not the United States, where he only holds a green card. But talk of national team action now seems a little premature as Najar is on the bench at D.C. United. Santino Quaranta, Chris Pontius and Branko Boskovic are all starting ahead of him.

“There is a lot of competition [for playing time in midfield] and my job is to just keep working hard to earn a spot,” said Najar, who started 22 of 30 matches in 2010. “Obviously, those are the coach’s decisions and all I can do is work hard.”