United’s Taylor Kemp back for I-95 derby clash

The DC United back-line is back to full capacity as it was reported yesterday that left-back Taylor Kemp will be available for Sunday’s match against the New York Red Bulls.

This news was first reported by the Washington Post.

Kemp, who missed the regular season opener against the Montreal Impact, has been suffering from a groin injury. He injured it in the first leg of the club’s CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal match against Alajuelense. Although he was in the eighteen for the second leg he did not play.

Last season, Kemp had a breakthrough year making 12 starts and playing in 1083 minutes. After taking over for Cristian Fernandez mid-season, he platooned with Chris Korb over the second half of United’s campaign.

He was drafted by D.C. United as the 17th overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Kemp spent most of 2013 with the Richmond Kickers in the then USL-PRO league but came on late in the season as injuries decimated the club. He would go on to make 8 appearances, 6 of which were starts.

Although he is not likely to start against the Red Bulls, he could prove to be an asset off of the bench. Against New York in the playoffs last season, he proved be a difference-maker by using his speed on the left flank to force a normally compact Red Bull defense out wide.

There was also of course his near-perfect cross into Nick De Leon in the second leg to give D.C. United some hope.

While 2014 was a breakout year for Kemp, more is expected of him this year. Although the Kemp-Korb duo proved formidable last year, Korb is more of a utility-man on the back four, filling in wherever there might be an injury or suspension. Kemp is more of a natural left-back and given that he is just 24 should be given time to earn the spot.

Despite the return of Kemp, the defense is still not at full capacity. Midfielder Markus Halsti, who was penciled in as Perry Kitchen’s opposite in the defensive-midfield, is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Expect Davy Arnaud to slot into that position ,which he held all of last season, for Sunday’s tilt.