With an untimely injury affecting Orlando City on the eve of their season opener Sunday against Real Salt Lake (2 pm ET, MLS Live), it appears a young player will get an immediate opportunity in the new season.
Homegrown defender Tommy Redding will get the starting nod on Sunday, according to local reports on Saturday.
Redding will step in the slot David Mateos was expected to occupy in the middle of the Lions' defense, with the Spanish defender reportedly out for 2-6 weeks with a hamstring injury.
"We just think he's very very good on the ball," Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath was quoted as saying about Redding by The Orlando Sentinel. "That's an important piece for us. I've got no qualms about putting him in. I don't go along with ... the age group. If they're good enough, they're young enough, they're old enough, If they can play. Tommy can play. He's going to be a very good player, And it's going to be a big opportunity for him tomorrow."
Redding, 19, was Orlando City's first Homegrown signing, in 2014, as he played for the club for their final season in USL before the Lions joined MLS last season. He has made two MLS appearances so far in his career.
