For the second straight year, Bobby Convey of the San Jose Earthquakes has been named to the MLS All-Star team, as announced by Major League Soccer. While in 2010, Convey was a late addition to the team due to injuries to other selections, the Quakes defender was included in the match-day roster for the 2011 All-Star game to be held at Red Bull Arena on July 27. Convey is joined by Earthquakes teammate Chris Wondolowski on the 22-man roster that will be available to head coach Hans Backe as he leads MLS against Manchester United.
Convey is currently rehabbing a leg injury that has seen him miss the last four MLS regular season games, but is nearing a return to the starting line-up. He has one goal and two assists so far in the 2011 campaign, with his goal coming off a brilliant free-kick against the New England Revolution back in May. In 2010, Convey scored one goal and ten assists in the regular season, while adding two more goals in the playoffs. His brace against Backe's New York Red Bulls in the second leg of the Eastern Conference first round tie propelled the Quakes past the heavily favored Red Bulls.
Perhaps that performance in front of coach Backe was still fresh in his mind when he constructed his MLS All-Star game 22-man roster, but with so many defenders in the league having solid seasons, was choosing an injured Convey the right decision? Whether or not the selection was deserved, Convey will be looking forward to facing Manchester United for the second straight summer, and perhaps with a chance to exact some revenge for the drubbing MLS took in 2010.
(Photo: Joe Nuxoll, centerlinesoccer.com)