New DP De Guzman Raring to Go Against Galaxy

• Toronto Star, Friday, September 18, 2009 3:45 PM

Julian de Guzman is itching to get on the field after spending a week training with his new club, Toronto FC. Toronto head coach Chris Cummins, normally tight-lipped about his starting lineups, has already penciled the club's most expensive player into the lineup against Saturday's opponent, the Los Angeles Galaxy. "If he feels good and he's ready to go, then I'm sure he'll be straight into the team," Cummins said. "We wouldn't have signed him otherwise.

De Guzman, whose pay has yet to be disclosed by the club, is set to make his debut against MLS's highest paid player, David Beckham. "It'll be great," said de Guzman, who was signed as TFC's first Designated Player last week. "I've got a lot of hunger in me, a lot of fire. I'm dying to get on the pitch."

De Guzman aims to bring consistency to a young team who's form has wavered all year. Veteran Dwayne De Rosario thinks the addition of de Guzman, a frequent teammate on the Canadian national squad, will help steady TFC in its push for the playoffs. "He's good under pressure, very composed on the ball," said De Rosario, TFC's leading scorer. "Hopefully he can come into the team and lift us to another level."

 

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