Sounders get another chance to test their depth

With Raúl Ruidíaz getting injured again, the spotlight will be on Héber.

Photo courtesy of Sounders FC

For most of this year — but especially over the past four weeks — the Seattle Sounders have been forced to test their depth one way or another. It started with Héber deputizing for Raúl Ruidíaz and has now included at least one change at 8 of 11 spots throughout the season’s first eight matches.

This week will be another good test. Ruidíaz is hurt again, Cristian Roldan remains in concussion protocol and all indications are that Jordan Morris will only be available off the bench after playing 89 minutes for the USMNT on Wednesday. Josh Atencio, who has emerged as one of the top backups, will also miss the game while he’s still recovering from an adductor injury that kept him out last week.

What’s somewhat remarkable about the Sounders roster this year is that despite all these absences, the lineup should still be very strong and there will even have a couple interesting options off the bench.

The biggest spotlight will probably be on Héber, who will likely return to the lineup for the first time since starting the first two games of the season. Héber was an absolute revelation in those games, not only scoring in each but constantly putting himself in dangerous positions. Héber was so dangerous in those games that despite having played 181 minutes this season he ranks ninth in the entire league with 3.1 expected goals. His. 1.55 xG per 90 is .62 more than any other player with at least 100 minutes played this season.

Of the seven goals Minnesota United have allowed so far this year, four of them are against opposing No. 9s. Kei Kamara had a particularly good game against United’s centerbacks, scoring a brace two weeks ago. This feels like a match that could set up nicely for Héber.