NYCFC should give Christian McFarlane a chance

On Saturday, New York City FC left-back Kevin O'Toole had to leave the match against FC Cincinnati early due to a knock to the head. The attacker-turned-defender struggled a little to walk off the pitch, illuminating he was not 100%.

After the game, head coach Nick Cushing told the media O'Toole could have a slow recovery with a possible concussion. While the club has not confirmed it yet, it would not be shocking for him to miss some time. It is better to be safe rather than sorry, especially after James Sands went out and played in a game last season when he should have been taken out for concussion symptoms.

NYCFC should give Christian McFarlane a shot

Therefore, that technically leaves one other option for NYCFC: Christian McFarlane. The Homegrown player has not played with the first team yet. He has been playing with the MLS Next Pro side and is a regular with the U-17 team for England.

Cushing could be creative and utilize someone else in the position. But, why not give McFarlane a chance? He is a top prospect within the club, and who knows how long the Pigeons can keep him. He is a talented left-back who has trained with NYCFC. He has been on the bench as well but has yet to make his debut.

Moreover, the Bronx side is 1-4-0 in 2024. Their current struggles should inspire Cushing to give other players a shot. It cannot hurt the team when they are already struggling. This also would be the time to experiment since things are not going the Pigeons' way.

If O'Toole ends up being okay, then McFarlane should still see playing time with NYCFC. He has been with the team since 2021. Clearly, there was a reason he was signed at 14 and he has continued to progress with his development.

Life can turn for the better, and NYCFC could start winning games at some point this season. This is a good time to see McFarlane and see what he can do. More importantly, O'Toole, who has improved tremendously over the last year, needs someone to compete with him to encourage his continued hard work. This move would be beneficial for both left-backs.