Dejan Jakovic returns to the D.C. United starting lineup for the first time since May 29 as United prepare to face the San Jose Earthquakes later tonight. Jakovic played the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 road win over the Portland Timbers, but suffered an injured hamstring while playing for the Canadian national team in a pre-Gold Cup friendly three days later. Jakovic will form one-half of the center-back partnership with former Earthquake Brandon McDonald.
Charlie Davies (left knee inflammation) will start tonight on the bench, while normal strike partner Josh Wolff (left hamstring) is not in the eligible 18 tonight. Nor, for that matter, is Joseph Ngwenya, who took a blow on the head in training earlier this week. As a result, Stephen King is brought into the midfield alongside Clyde Simms while Dwayne De Rosario will move into a forward attacking role alongside Blake Brettschneider, who's recently recovered from a concussion.
Full D.C. United Starting Lineup: Bill Hamid (GK), Perry Kitchen, Dejan Jakovic, Brandon McDonald, Daniel Woolard, Andy Najar, Stephen King, Clyde Simms, Chris Pontius, Dwayne De Rosario, Blake Brettschneider.
Available D.C. United Substitutes: Steve Cronin (GK), Marc Burch, Ethan White, Chris Korb, Brandon Barklage, Austin da Luz, Charlie Davies.
San Jose Earthquakes Starting Lineup: Jon Busch (GK), Tim Ward, Nana Attakora, Ramiro Corrales, Bobby Convey, Chris Wondolowski, Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson, Jacob Peterson, Scott Sealy, Alan Gordon.
Available San Jose Earthquakes Substitutes: David Bingham (GK), Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Joey Gjertsen, Chris Leitch, Matt Luzunaris, Justin Morrow, Ellis McLoughlin.