One player that probably won´t be joining the likes of Brek Shea, Chris Pontius and Kevin Alston is DC United´s teenage sensation Andy Najar, a jaw-droppingly talented 17-year-old with a big future ahead of him. He was born in Honduras and moved to Virginia at the age of 13. In March, he dropped out of high school and followed in the footsteps of goalkeeper Bill Hamid to become the second player to join DC United directly from its academy, which he had joined two years previously.

He´s now in his first MLS season and he´s really making a name for himself. In United´s academy, Najar developed a reputation for being a versatile attacking player capable of playing on either wing or as a modern number ten, and that has continued into MLS where talk of his eventual position prevails despite his effectiveness on the right wing. Players of his natural ability tend to be as adept on one flank as they are on the other, and his impressive reading of the game, eye for an opening and clear goalscoring knack suggest that a more prominent, central role might just be his eventual destination. One day, Najar will be pulling the strings.

In his MLS appearances this season Najar has racked up almost 700 minutes of action, proving that coach Curt Onalfo is taking him very seriously indeed. He´s stolen in at the far post twice to score his two MLS goals to date, equalising in DC´s win over Chivas USA at the end of May and again in a draw away at San Jose Earthquakes last weekend. Incredibly, Najar also already has a barnstorming solo goal to his name. United´s US Open Cup play-in game (translated: qualifier) against Real Salt Lake on June 2nd went to extra time at 1-1. Najar came on as a substitute at the beginning of the second period and won the game with a remarkable dribble into the RSL penalty area and a composed finish.

Najar isn´t the only bright young thing breaking out in MLS this season. Philadelphia Union used the first pick in this year´s SuperDraft to sign up Danny Mwanga, a highly-rated product of Oregon State after reuniting in the USA with his mother, who fled the Congo after Danny´s father was killed during the civil war. The 18-year-old has waltzed seamlessly into MLS, showing already that he has the pace and power required to stand out in a physical league and has a keen eye for goal. He´s also got a habit of scoring extremely late in matches, which will be a useful asset even if it hasn´t helped Philly much this term.

Call me one-eyed, but for me Najar just has that natural, fluid edge to his game that Mwanga doesn´t quite match.

Unfortunately for supporters of the US national team, it´s likely that none of this will ever benefit their country. Najar doesn´t have a green card (to the best of my knowledge), does not speak fluent English (also to the best of my knowledge) and has indicated strongly that he would choose Honduras over the USA at international level should the opportunity arise. It´s a mature choice for a young professional who seems to have chosen his roots over a more glamorous calling.

For now, it´s great news that Najar ended up in MLS and that Onalfo and DC United have been brave enough to throw him in at the deep end. He´s already proving his worth and the league should get a couple more years out of him before he leaves for more high profile shores.

Chris Nee is the editor of twofootedtackle.com