Emerson Hyndman has been training with Atlanta United for less than two weeks, but manager Frank de Boer said he will start in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup game against St. Louis at Kennesaw State.
“It’s exciting personally for me,” Hyndman said with a slight English accent from his nine years spent in the country playing with Fulham and Bournemouth. “It’s a good time to come in and get used to the guys and obviously it’s an important game as well. It’s nice to be trusted. early on and hopefully I’ll play them back.”
It will be Hyndman’s first start since doing so while on loan with Hibernian against Rangers on Dec. 26, 2018.
De Boer said he sees Hyndman as an offensive midfielder because of his mobility, agility and technical ability.
“We don’t really have one right now,” de Boer said. “Jules (Julian Gressel) is maybe one. We have another opportunity with him.”
Hyndman’s loan to Atlanta United from Bournemouth was announced last week. The team has an option to buy him after the MLS season.
Hyndman said the discussions to join Atlanta United started and completed within the past month. Hyndman said he appreciated the vision that club president Darren Eales and vice president Carlos Bocanegra have for not only bringing in any players that will help the team, but also that will help the league.
“Atlanta united has a big hold on MLS now, with winning the championship and everything,” he said. “They are a good team and someone I had eyes on.”
Hyndman is a native of Dallas who played in FC Dallas’ academy with Atlanta United fullbacks Brek Shea and Mikey Ambrose.
“Very technical player, very gifted, talented, creative player,” Ambrose said. “Very hard worker. Good team guy. I’m excited for him to get involved with the team and see what he can do.”
Hyndman signed with Fulham in England in 2010 and worked his way from the youth team to the first team. He made 25 appearances with the Cottagers from 2014-16.
“That was a place I loved and cared about a lot,” Hyndman said.
Hynmdan was purchased by Bournemouth in 2016. He went on loan to Rangers in Scotland in 2017, where he made 13 appearances, and then went on loan to Hibernian in Scotland in 2018, making 15 appearances. He had less than five appearances with Bournemouth. Hyndman said his time in Scotland taught him to handle physical play and tough challenges.
“It didn’t quite work out, but I learned a lot: how to work hard and defend harder, things I can take into this new experience and hopefully apply it well,” he said.
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