HARRISON, N.J. — New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz is considering giving star midfielder Lewis Morgan his first start of the 2024 MLS season.
“It is an option that he could start on Saturday,” Schwarz said on Thursday. “But we’ll also have to look [on Friday] how he’s feeling after the training session. But he could be an option.”
Morgan was limited to just five MLS games last season due to a torn psoas muscle in his hip — an issue he continued to reinjure while trying to play through it.
He finally underwent surgery to repair the issue during the offseason, but the majority of his winter consisted of a methodical rehab and recovery.
“I feel good. I feel much better than what I was previously,” Morgan said.
In the season opener, he was subbed on in the 64th minute and was expected to get a similar workload for Matchday 2 last weekend down in Houston against the Dynamo. However, an injury suffered by Peter Stroud in the 34th minute forced Schwarz to sub Morgan on earlier than expected.
“You don’t really have time… to think ‘Oh, am I ready for this?'” Morgan said. “That wasn’t in the back of my mind. I know that I prepared to be ready for the minutes… there was supposed to be a little bit of a cap on it, but it worked out for me.”
Within 15 minutes of game time, the 27-year-old scored his first goal of the season — a thunderous left-footed effort that proved to be the game-winner.
“Getting the first [goal] of the season is always nice,” Morgan said. “The goal felt normal, to be honest. I thought maybe when I scored I’d feel amazing, but really I just feel normal.”
Things continue to trend in the right direction for the Scotsman, though Schwarz admitted that he might not be ready just yet to play a full 90 minutes.
“I would not say 90 minutes now,” Schwarz said. “If he is the option to start on Saturday, I’m not sure if he’ll be able to play 90 minutes but you never know.”
“We’ll just see how the medical team and the team see this weekend,” Morgan added. “I prepare for every game like I’m going to be playing.”
New York’s home opener against FC Dallas is set for kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
