Midfielder Dilly Duka has not played a competitive game since Nov. 8, giving Crew SC coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter pause before the team traded allocation money and a second-round draft pick to the Montreal Impact for the rights to the out-of-contract veteran and signed him Monday.
But what Duka might provide for Berhalter’s underperforming and injury-riddled team far outweighed any misgivings about rust.
Duka’s greatest appeal is his versatility. He is capable of playing on either wing and as a playmaking central midfielder, a position of need since designated player Federico Higuain underwent sports hernia surgery last week.