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TOYOTA STORY BEHIND: Danny Flores is ready for the challenge

Philadelphia Union’s academy is loaded with talent on the U17 level. Selmir Miscic has already signed a professional contract, and Patrick Bohui and Dante Huckaby are perennial US Boys’ National Team call-ups.

But even among such leading lights of the US youth system, Danny Flores will stand out. Union academy director Tommy Wilson says, “If you could have an identikit of a No. 6, it's Danny Flores.”

A holding midfielder has a key linking role in the modern game. Not only does he protect the the back four and break up play, he must also act, at times, as the primary distributor, and balance the team’s shape when faced with a high press.