Toronto FC throw Chad Barrett into the fire
Last Updated: Sunday, August 3, 2008 | 1:05 AM ET
CBC Sports
Chad Barrett will make his debut for Toronto FC on Sunday.
(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)All eyes will be on new Toronto FC striker Chad Barrett when the Canadian club hosts FC Dallas on Sunday (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 4 p.m. ET).
Barrett will be in the starting lineup against Dallas, just 48 hours after landing in Toronto and training with his new teammates for the first time since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Fire last week.
The 23-year-old led the Fire in scoring this season with five goals, and his arrival in the Ontario capital could not have come at a better time.
Toronto FC is mired in a five-game winless streak (its last win coming on June 14) and has scored only three goals during that run, so Barrett will be expected to supply some much needed offence immediately for a goal-starved Toronto team.
"I can guarantee he will be the first name on the team sheet," said Toronto coach John Carver. "He's fitted right in with the guys and he's got confidence. He's got a little bit of arrogance, which I think you need as a striker.
"He's got all of the ingredients, I don't want to put too much pressure on him but we've definitely got something to work with."
Barrett insists the pressure doesn't bother him.
"I'm a forward and I get paid to score goals. The fans are expecting a lot out of me and I welcome that pressure. Good players thrive on pressure," Barrett told reporters on Friday.
Asked by CBCSports.ca what he brings to the table in terms of skills, Barrett answered: "I think I'm a good finisher, I get behind the defence, and hopefully I can bring a bit of experience to the forward line."
Toronto's poor run of form has seen the club drop to fifth place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. It is in danger of sliding out of the playoff race completely if it doesn't start getting some results — and soon.
But Barrett believes Toronto can still challenge for a post-season spot.
"We've got a 6-7-4 record, and I've been on teams who have only won 10 games in a season and got into the playoffs. … we're in good shape and can still make the post-season," the forward said.
While Toronto will welcome Barret into the fold Sunday, the club will be missing four players.
Defender Todd Dunivant (ankle) and top scorer Danny Dichio (concussion) are injured, while midfielder Maurice Edu and defender Marvell Wynne are off on international duty with the U.S. Olympic team.
"It's difficult being without four key players, but the injection of Chad Barrett coming in has given everyone a lift," said Carver.
Toronto's next game is on the road against the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 9.
