Inter Miami are reportedly set to pick an academy talent for the first time in over a year tonight against the Columbus Crew.
The Herons take on the defending MLS Cup champions at Chase Stadium with Tata Martino’s squad as depleted as it has ever been this season, with Inter Miami missing a number of key players for tonight’s game.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Matias Rojas are away at the Copa America, as Tomas Aviles and David Ruiz are unavailable after being sent off on Saturday against the Philadelphia Union, with Inter Miami still missing big-name players like Diego Gomez and Federico Redondo to injury.
And as a result, one Iner Miami player is expected to feature tonight for the first time in over a year.
Ian Fray set for Inter Miami return vs Columbus Crew after injury nightmare
According to the Miami Herald, defender Ian Fray is set to feature tonight against the Crew in what will be the 21-year-old’s first senior appearance in over a year after recovering from an ACL injury.
Lauded as ‘incredible’, Fray has endured consecutive injury nightmares that have seen the Inter Miami academy graduate miss as much as two years of his career, with the defender only returning to full fitness now.
With Aviles suspended, though, Fray now looks set to return to Martino’s senior set-up for tonight’s match against Columbus, with the Jamaica international only playing two MLS Next Pro games this season.
Indeed, the timing might not be right for Fray to make his full return to MLS action, but with Inter Miami short of options and facing one of the best teams in the league, the 21-year-old could be called upon to take on the Crew.
Fray will hope this is the start of a new beginning with the Herons
Despite being just 21-years-old, Fray’s injury issues are something even the best players in soccer would struggle to come back from, with the defender going to war and back with issue after issue.
Yet with the Coconut Creek native now back for selection, Fray will hope tonight’s game against the Crew will be the start of a new beginning with Inter Miami.
The versatile defender has the potential to be a top prospect for the Herons, and a good performance tonight at Chase Stadium will remind everyone just how exciting a talent Fray can be.