COMMERCE CITY — Since the Rapids signed Jamie Smith midway through the 2009 season, the midfielder hasn’t gotten many opportunities to show what he can do. The quiet Scotsman might have been the most entertaining performer on the pitch last Saturday, however.
Smith scored in the second minute against Houston, showed some clever moves taking on Dynamo defenders and played a key role in Colorado’s 3-0 victory.
“It’s probably the game I’ve enjoyed most, that I’ve played best,” Smith said after training Thursday.
Smith injured a knee a month after the Rapids signed him last year, sidelining him for the rest of that season, and he has had other injury issues this season. That, combined with the team’s depth at midfield, has limited his playing time.
“His injuries have prevented him from having a real run in the group,” coach Gary Smith said. “On top of that, when you’re coming back from those sorts of injuries, it starts to affect your form. You move away from what has given you success. For Jamie, it’s been those individual one-on-ones, taking players on and being creative, being more explosive. It plays on your mind when you’ve had a problem.”
Jamie Smith has appeared in 13 of the team’s 21 games this season, starting eight, and Saturday was only his third 90-minute effort of the season. Three Rapids players — Omar Cummings, Drew Moor and Marvell Wynne — have started all 21 games.
Even with Colin Clark out for the rest of the season with his second knee injury in two seasons, there’s still a lot of competition for playing time in the midfield. Pablo Mastroeni and Jeff Larentowicz are fixtures in the center, leaving Smith vying for playing time with Mehdi Ballouchy, Wells Thompson and Claudio Lopez at the other two spots.
But Smith showed Saturday he can be a real contributor in the team’s playoff drive.
“He doesn’t say an awful lot, but he is a very good professional,” Gary Smith said. “He keeps himself in good shape, he trains hard, he’s raised the cultural side of the day-to-day work with his professionalism.”
Pickens OK to return.
Goalkeeper Matt Pickens says he will be able to play Saturday against Chivas USA after missing the Houston game with back spasms. Pickens said the problem was caused by a blow to his back the previous week at Columbus.
“It’s still pretty tender,” Pickens said, “but the spasms have stopped.”
Cummings call-up.
Cummings was summoned by the Jamaican national team for friendly matches Sunday and Tuesday. He declined the first one against Costa Rica in Jamaica, because he is in the process of getting his U.S. green card and has to stay in the U.S. during the application period. He will be with the team for its game against Peru on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale.
“It worked out perfectly,” Cummings said. “I do get a game with the Jamaican national team, and I don’t miss any games for the (Rapids), so it works out.”
