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Can Crew "Swiss Army knife" Sean Zawadzki be Columbus' permanent center midfielder?
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- Can Crew "Swiss Army knife" Sean Zawadzki be Columbus' permanent center midfielder?
Sean Zawadzki has been a self-described "Swiss Army knife" for the Crew since coach Wilfried Nancy's hire in 2023. With the ability to play on the backline and multiple midfield positions, Zawadzki is one of Columbus' most versatile players, but he has admitted he would be open for that to change.
"It's always nice when you have a position where you're kind of just set in stone," Zawadzki said. "With one position, it's kind of one thing that you can focus on, but at the end of the day, whatever's needed."
Apr 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki (25) dribbles past CF Montreal midfielder Dominic Iankov (8) during the second half of the MLS match at Lower.com Field. The teams played to a 0-0 draw.
The departure of long-time Crew center midfielder Aidan Morris has created a hole in Columbus' lineup at the position where Zawadzki, 24, originally played.
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After a June 11 report that Morris would eventually sign with England's Middlesbrough FC , Zawadzki appeared in the Crew's next three matches at center midfield, either as a starter or as a second-half substitution for Morris. While Nancy claims the decision to play Zawadzki at the position was unrelated to Morris' impending departure, Zawadzki suspects otherwise.
"I think the last few games in particular might have been more of a recency thing," Zawadzki said. "But I think it also comes down to training and seeing that every day. ... To see the growth I've had and willingness to take risks and to be out of my comfort zone. And so, it's kind of been a bigger test more so than just the last few games."
Zawadski said Morris leaves a "big spot to fill," but he's confident he can take over the role.
"I'm someone who's going to connect with the ball," Zawadzki said. "I'm not someone who gets forward very often, but when it's needed, I will. And someone who's going to do whatever is needed, do some dirty work, if possible, try and break up tackles and do that stuff too."
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Before the Crew's Saturday game at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution , Nancy said he had yet to decide who would step in at center midfield.
"It depends on every situation," Nancy said. "I can change certain things, it could be a proper midfielder, it could be a number eight, it could be a center back."
Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush reinjures arm
Less than two weeks before being cleared to return to Columbus' lineup from a forearm injury, backup goalkeeper Evan Bush hit a setback and has had to restart his recovery.
Apr 13, 2024; Sandy, Utah, USA; Columbus Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush (24) gets medical attention after a collision with Real Salt Lake midfielder Matt Crooks (25) during the first half at America First Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports
Bush suffered a broken bone in his left forearm during the Crew's match against Real Salt Lake on April 13 , which required surgery. Last Saturday, while training in preparation for his return, Bush broke a different bone in his arm, and it was determined he would need another surgery ten weeks removed from the first one, Bush confirmed via Instagram.
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"There was a small chance that if he received the ball in a certain area (of his arm), it could happen," Nancy said. "It's sad news, but Evan (Bush) is good, he's good. He knows that he did everything that he was supposed to do and did it well."
In his statement on Instagram, Bush stated that he "didn't regret" the effort he put forward during his recovery following the first break in his arm. Initially on track to be cleared near the end of June, Bush will be unavailable for another extended period, but there is no official timeline for his return.
The expectation is Bush will no longer be back with the team during the period starting goalkeeper Patrick Schulte would be away for the Olympics, assuming Schulte makes the 18-man roster. The Crew's next option is Nicholas Hagen , one of Columbus' free-agent signings from this offseason.
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Hagen, a 27-year-old in his first season playing in MLS, has only appeared in one match for Columbus when he replaced Bush in the Salt Lake match, an appearance in which he recorded five saves while holding Salt Lake scoreless.
Apr 13, 2024; Sandy, Utah, USA; Columbus Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen (1) kicks the ball during the second half against Real Salt Lake at America First Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports
While Nancy has indicated that Hagen will play in Schulte's anticipated absence, there is a concern that Hagen might receive a September call-up with the Guatemalan national team.
"With all the games that they can have with the international teams with the FIFA (windows)," Nancy said. "For the moment, the idea is to reflect and to see what we're going to do, but we're going to find a solution like we usually do."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sean Zawadzki discuses playing center midfielder for Columbus Crew
