Christmas and COVID was a hard combination for millions of families across the world. But for a footballer from New Zealand who plays in the United States? Well, it’s been just that bit harder again.
“It is the first Christmas I haven’t spent with my family, so it was pretty tough,” new Rising signing Deklan Wynne said. “My mum’s disappointed because it’s always something she looks forward to, you know, the end of the year when I go home, but hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
Still holed up in Colorado, it isn’t just a family Christmas that Wynne missed in 2020. Alongside that, you can count every minute of game time that his team saw in the year. In fact, he last featured in a competitive match back in June 2019.
“I think preseason and getting a few games under my belt, just to get back into it, it’s really important,” Wynne said. “Since I had my foot injury, the year before last year, I haven’t played in a while, so I’m really excited to get back on the pitch and play some games.”
Wynne was let go by Colorado Rapids, the side that first put him on an MLS pitch three years ago, last month. However, it didn’t take long for his agent to hear of interest that grabbed the defender’s attention.
“I’ve known [Phoenix Rising] for a few years now, from back when I was back in the USL, and they’ve always been one of the best teams since they joined,” Wynne said. “So when I knew they were interested, it was pretty easy for me to agree to want to come there.”
There may not be a date set for him to report to training yet, but he’s already in touch with the coaching staff and some teammates.
“I spoke to Rick [Schantz] on the phone, and he was explaining the way they play and it all sounded really positive,” Wynne said. “I just look forward to being there. I have met Jon Bakero when he was with Toronto. He congratulated me on social media, so it’d be nice to kind of know someone when I get there.”
Wynne’s playing style often sees him pushing forward from the left-back position and looking for overlaps in the attacking half, which should boost his chances of hitting the ground running within Schantz’s system. That isn’t the only position he’s capable of playing, though. In fact, Wynne could prove himself to be the most versatile defender on the club’s books in 2021.
“Obviously being left-footed and being on the left side, left-back or left center-back, I feel really comfortable on the ball,” Wynne said. “Playing out, and especially at left-back, getting forward.
“Most of my career at Colorado, I played center-back, so it really got me used to playing different positions in the back, and then obviously, right-back’s real similar to left-back. Obviously my right foot’s not as strong as my left, so it was something I had to adapt to, but I think I’m pretty comfortable playing all four positions, and even in a back three, which I did quite a lot at Colorado the past couple of years.”
While Wynne’s abilities at center-back have been boosted over the last three years, so too has the league he left behind in 2017.
“I think it’s grown quite a lot,” Wynne said. “You see a lot of players jumping from USL to MLS and I think it’s more than it was back then. All the new teams coming in too, so it’s only going to get bigger and better for American players, and even getting people from as far away as New Zealand an opportunity to play professionally. It’s really good.”
Players from around the league may indeed be jumping up to the top-flight, but through names like Adam Jahn and Amadou Dia, Rising has certainly developed a reputation as one of the best teams for players seeking to do so. Is that something on the new defender’s mind?
“Oh definitely, yeah,” Wynne said. “Phoenix being one of the best teams in the entire league, I think it’s probably the best club I could go to to get exposure and hopefully be seen, to make the jump back up to MLS.”