CARSON, Calif. – Dave Romney has earned his title as the LA Galaxy’s utility man, and he’ll be called upon once again on Saturday to step up in difficult circumstances.
Romney is expected to earn the nod at center back replacing the injured Daniel Steres who will miss out on Saturday’s game against D.C. United with a hamstring injury. The match will be Romney’s ninth appearance of 2017, a year that has seen him play central defender, right back, left back, and left midfield at times for Curt Onalfo’s squad.
In 47 minutes of action in last week’s victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, Romney filled in capably for the injured Steres, keeping the Earthquakes off the board as Los Angeles earned their third straight win.
“Dave should be a starter in our league for sure. He’s ready. He stepped in, and that’s the second time where we’ve had an injury in the game, and he came in and did a very good job,” Onalfo said. “He did a very good job to help us; we didn’t concede the rest of the game. He did a good job, and his mindset is good. He’ll step in and play well.”
The opportunity of stepping in for Steres on Saturday – and possibly for an extended period – does not seem to faze the central defender who is clearly used to being ready when his number is called.
“I’ve been in this position so many times that I don’t have to think about it anymore. I know my number is called and I’m ready to go,” Romney said. “If you train really hard and do all the things you need to do, it’s not too hard to step in and play 90 minutes at center back.”
