HOUSTON – Owen Coyle was sitting at his first adidas MLS Player Combine, taking it all in. The first-year head coach was engaging in one of the league’s unique events, sitting among other MLS coaches and scouts in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in mid-January, making mental notes.
Coyle was looking for players that fit his mold: attack-minded and willing to take chances to express themselves.
Rob Lovejoy took advantage.
A senior invitee out of the University of North Carolina, Lovejoy caught Coyle’s eye, particularly with one move that showed he fit what the EPL veteran was looking for.
“I remember one where he went by two or three people as if they weren’t there. I thought to myself, 'It looked effortless,” Coyle told the media Thursday. “It won’t come off every time. There were a couple of times he tried it, and it never came off, but I loved the fact that he kept wanting to try and do it and be positive."
“I had [former Manchester United starlet] Chris Eagles at Burnley,” Coyle continued. “The reason I’d liken [Lovejoy] to him is because when he gets the ball, you think something exciting might happen, and that’s the type of player we all want to come watch.”
Coyle kept an eye on Lovejoy. A successful interview confirmed the Dynamo’s thoughts, and they selected him in the second round. Three months later, Lovejoy is pushing for a permanent spot as a contributor in Houston.
The same traits that caught Coyle’s attention in Florida have defined the first four appearances of his MLS career. Lovejoy still looks to get forward while adding a willingness to do the dirty work and keep running. It’s easy to understand why the rookie has earned praise from his coaches and teammates.
Two years ago, however, this start was an afterthought. Lovejoy suffered a hip injury that, along with other setbacks, cost him the 2013 season at UNC and made for a long road back.
“There was a period of time where I wanted to quit,” Lovejoy told MLSsoccer.com. “It took me an additional maybe six months to get my feet back. One hundred percent, I think about it all the time.”
If Lovejoy questioned whether he’d make it back or to MLS while he struggled with injury, the feeling he had Saturday night was the complete opposite.
In the 80th minute, the winger used his non-preferred right foot to hit a sterling strike to the top corner. He pulled down a goal kick, got forward and attacked, showing the traits that caused Coyle to recall Eagles were rolled into one 10-second clip.
“Just to have the low I had during that time – and it was just two-and-a-half years ago, to where I was thinking about quitting soccer – to come from that and have the high that I had the other night was just unreal,” Lovejoy said.
That resilience isn’t lost on Coyle.
“He missed a year. You look at somebody that’s come back to the level he has, and that tells me a lot about his character,” Coyle said. “It tells me he’s willing to – every week, as we see – he’s willing to scrap away and battle as well. There’s a lot I liked about him.”
Lovejoy’s keeping things in perspective. He makes clear that his early-season success is no guarantee of an MLS career. He’ll be in the mix to start against D.C. United on Saturday (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE) in place of Boniek Garcia, who left last week’s game with a twisted knee and is doubtful to play, according to Coyle. But Lovejoy knows there’s a lot of work to be done.
If he didn't know, his teammates' higher expectations have made it clear.
“They’re starting to push me more,” Lovejoy said. “[Thursday] I gave a ball away and [DaMarcus Beasley] was the first one to get right in my face and say, ‘Let’s go, play the ball faster.’ I appreciate that. It motivates me. I hope they continue doing that.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
