Sporting KC: 5 key players to watch in 2020

KANSAS CITY, KS - JULY 06: Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet (10) is congratulated by teammates after a goal in the first half of an MLS match between the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City on July 6, 2019 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, KS - JULY 06: Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet (10) is congratulated by teammates after a goal in the first half of an MLS match between the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City on July 6, 2019 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Sporting KC, Daniel Salloi
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 04: Daniel Salloi #20 of Sporting Kansas City reacts against the Seattle Sounders in the first half during their game at CenturyLink Field on August 04, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

3. Daniel Salloi

After a train-wreck in 2019, Sporting KC homegrown player Daniel Salloi cannot afford to have a 2020 anything even remotely similar to last season.

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Salloi will be playing for his future after scoring just one MLS regular-season goal last year. He is in the final year of his contract and is at the stage of his time in Kansas City where he must now prove that he can be a consistent performer.

The Hungarian will not have it easy with the possibility of having two left-wingers (Khiry Shelton and Gerso Fernandes) ahead of him on the depth chart. So when his chance comes, he must take full advantage of it. After leading the team with 11 goals in 2018, last season was a disaster with some shocking misses from what was a clinical winger just the previous season.

Salloi, who ended preseason with a nasty slip resulting in a red card against RSL, will look to return to the form he acquired in 2018. If he can produce as he did back then, suddenly Sporting KC have an embarrassment of riches in the offensive positions, with Shelton, Fernandes and Johnny Russell all providing excellent threat from out wide. If not, others will have to step up.