Health, depth in central defense keys for Austin FC as season opener nears

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the 2024 Major League Soccer season approaches, Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff is focused on putting the finishing touches on this preseason from a fitness standpoint but also trying to keep the team healthy.

Defender Julio Cascante has an injured leg and didn't play in two of the preseason games at the Coachella Valley Invitational, and Wolff said one of the things that complicated things last season was the amount of injuries at center back.

"Depth is always a concern in this league," Wolff said. "To be honest, you've got to stay healthy. You need to have good numbers at positions, and you want good competition."

Bringing in free agent Brendan Hines-Ike will help alleviate the early issues at the position for Austin FC, but what Wolff doesn't want to have to use eight center backs during the season like they had to in 2023.

"It was a nightmare," he said. "That's so disruptive to everything that you're doing. It's not an excuse, just a reality."

Right now, Wolff said there are four guys in the rotation at center back with Leo Väisänen coming back from an injury, Matt Hedges who signed last season with the club, along with Cascante and Hines-Ike. Getting Cascante healthy and Hines-Ike into game shape are priorities for Wolff as the Feb. 24 opener against Minnesota United nears.

"We're hopeful those guys can stay fit and strong and we have decisions to make every week," Wolff said.

Hines-Ike was a late signing for Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell, who is continuing to build out a full roster with a week before the season opener. Borrell also signed Brazilian defender Guilherme Biro to help build depth in the back, as well. For Hines-Ike, who played for D.C. United last season, it was "quite an easy decision" to sign with Austin.

"It was something that was hard to pass by with the club's infrastructure, the history of the club even though it's not very old, and the great resumes of the players and coaching staff," he said. "Coming in late, I have to get my feet going, but like any player, my job is to come in and impact the team the best I can."

Hines-Ike said the coaching and training are "much more methodical than I've been a part of," to which he added is "a delight," and he wants to get Austin FC back to the playoffs after last year's disappointing season. His DC United club also missed the playoffs last year, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with 40 points, one better than Austin FC in the Western Conference.

"There's an expectation from the fan base that I didn't realize how big it was until the jersey unveiling," he said. "It's a winning culture, and that's what I'm here to do."

Austin will play its last preseason match, a 120-minute tune-up, Saturday against NYCFC at Q2 Stadium.