Coming into 2018, Chris Durkin had to be feeling a bit of a disconnect. A darling of the #PlayYourKids segment of American soccer, Durkin had impressed repeatedly for U.S. youth national teams, and would start his third pro season shortly after turning 18. For D.C. United, however, his only appearances had come in Open Cup matches against lower-division opponents, and his YNT commitments had left him with little time to break through in the District.
United’s acquisitions were only going to make that task tougher. Russell Canouse did well immediately upon joining the team in the 2017 summer window, and in the winter United added Venezuela national team regular Junior Moreno to the list of competitors for the defensive midfield job.