Charlie Davies Making Strong Comeback In Major League Soccer
Nearly 18 months after almost losing his life in a horrendous automobile accident, Charlie Davies is making his presence felt again in Major League Soccer. Davies has scored four goals in three games while on loan at D.C. United from his parent club Sochaux in the French Ligue 1.
After being one of the first choice strikers for much of the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and playing a key role in the USA’s run through the 2009 Confederations Cup, Davies time with the national team was cut short after a car he was riding in crashed on October 13, 2009, the day before the last World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica.
The crash left Davies with a lacerated bladder, fractured right tibia and femur, a fractured elbow, facial injuries, and bleeding on the brain. Some feared that he wouldn’t make it alive, let alone be able to play soccer again.
But after rigorous physical and emotional rehabilitation, Davies was back training again in France by March 2010, only 5 months after the crash. He was hoping to make the 2010 World Cup roster for the USA, but coach Bob Bradley chose not to include him after he failed to get medical clearance from Sochaux.
Because of the crash, Davies was only able to make 8 appearances for Sochaux in the French Ligue 1. After finding trouble to get back into the lineup, the club decided to loan him to MLS and D.C. United for the 2011 season.
Davies has made an immediate impact for D.C. United, scoring four goals in his first three games. Although 3 of his goals have come from penalties this season, it shows that his team and coaches have faith and confidence in Davies in big pressure situations.
Personally, I can’t wait until he gets back to his full potential and playing for the national team again. Davies provides speed and the finishing ability that most of our other strikers don’t have. At age 24, he still has a lot of soccer to play, and should be a huge part of the US national team going forward.
In my mind, I think that Bob Bradley should give him a roster spot for the Gold Cup this summer. If he continues to play well this season for D.C. United, there’s no doubt in my mind he can help contribute for the US national team. The last time he played in a major tournament, the 2009 Confederations Cup, he assisted on both Jozy Altidore’s goal against Spain, and Landon Donovan’s goal against Brazil. He also scored a goal against Egypt in the group stage.
Spain and Brazil are arguably the two best teams in the world. Just think what may happen when we play Canada and Panama.
