.JonGallagher96 has found his home for AustinFC. The 26-year-old Irishman is thriving at left back.
Not only has Gallagher given head coach Josh Wolff a dependable presence on the left flank, he's made his coach look like something of a genius for experimenting with the former Notre Dame Fighting Irishman at the position in the first place."I think you have hopes for what it will look like, and to see it fulfilled the way that Jonny has been doing has really been encouraging," Wolff said."He finds a way.
, after all – it's his defensive effort that has things really clicking on the back line. Even as an attacker most of his career, Gallagher has built a reputation as a hustle player, and that work rate has made him a nightmare for wingers this season. Of Austin FC players who've logged more than 360 minutes , Gallagher is second on the team in interceptions per game, tackles won per game, and percentage of duels won.
"I think you can see as the season's gone on, maybe my maturity and understanding of the role has kind of gone upwards," Gallagher said of his recent performances."With each game I feel more confident, and that's down to the guys around me." Encouragement from teammates and intensive film study with coaches have proven particularly helpful, he said.
Fullback, particularly left back, had looked for much of the season like one of the club's biggest areas of need for the summer transfer window, set to open Thursday, July 7. We'll see if Gallagher's level of play has been high enough to possibly move the club off of plans to add talent in that area of the pitch.
In the immediacy, though, Gallagher seems open to a brief return to his"utility" roots with Austin FC in a bind at center back for Saturday's match against Atlanta United, Gallagher's former club. Kipp Keller is suspended and Julio Cascante and Jhohan Romaña are battling injury, leaving the Verde and Black with just one healthy central defender."[Gallagher] is ready to go play center back. He's said it a couple times," Wolff said.
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