Adu again unlikely to start

Four Major League Soccer rookies have started for their respective clubs this season — none of them named Freddy Adu.

Adu, D.C. United’s 14-year-old phenom, was the first player chosen in the MLS SuperDraft and is the league’s youngest and highest-paid player. The “will he start” watch is in its third week, and it appears the answer again will be no tomorrow against the MetroStars at Giants Stadium.

“[My not starting] says that you can’t just come into a league since you’re the No.1 draft pick and think you’re just going to get your way,” Adu said. “You’ve got to earn it, and you’ve got to work hard for it. Fortunately for me, my position is very competitive, and it drives me to work harder and makes me a better player. So some good comes out of it.”

April 24 is Freddy Adu bobblehead night at RFK Stadium. The first 5,000 fans showing up for a match against the Chicago Fire receive the gift statue. But it may take an injury or red card to Jaime Moreno or Alecko Eskandarian for Adu to crack the starting lineup, even on his promotional night.

Between now and next week Adu said he will ratchet up his training regimen and shoot for a starting spot against the Fire.

“I said every game I will play better,” Adu said. “I’m going to hit a point — and I think it’s going to come sooner — where I will be so comfortable that I will be able to do everything that I know how to do best.”

None of the four Major League Soccer rookies who have started were first-round selections — and one is Adu’s teammate. United midfielder Joshua Gros, who started ahead of Adu at left-flank midfield in the club’s 1-1 tie Saturday at the Los Angeles Galaxy, was taken in the fourth round with the 44th pick.

Fire midfielder/defender Leonard Griffin was the first pick of the second round and the 11th overall. Colorado defender Gary Sullivan (45th) was a fifth-round selection. Defender Jeff Parke of the MetroStars was the last player drafted (60th).

“Freddy is Freddy — everybody knows how good he is,” Gros said of starting before Adu. “We have a different style of game. [Adu] is more of an attacking player, and I’m more of a defensive-minded player. That’s why I played on the left, probably.”

One thing is certain: Wherever United (1-0-1) goes, crowds flock to see Adu. Some 23,000 tickets already have been sold for tomorrow’s game against the MetroStars (1-0-0), and a crowd of more than 30,000 is expected.

Both of United’s games this season have been sellouts. Adu’s debut at RFK two weeks ago drew 24,603. Last Saturday at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., 27,000 fans attended.

“Freddy is one big part of the crowds, no question — everybody wants to see him,” United coach Peter Nowak said. “Our success will verify everything. If our group is successful, everybody will get part of the recognition. We cannot look at the Freddy project in the weeks, months, or years. We just have to wait and see what happens.”

In Adu’s professional debut, Nowak brought him on in the 61st minute. Against the Galaxy, Adu opened the second half for Eskandarian.

Adu played much better against the Galaxy than he did in the season opener. He made long runs with the ball, spread the ball around, found teammates in space and even took a wicked right-footed shot from 10 yards to the near post on the right side that forced Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to make a diving save.

The Galaxy game boosted Adu’s confidence, which might have been slightly damaged from his pedestrian pro debut at RFK.

“As the games go on and on, I’m more and more comfortable,” Adu said. “So now I think I have reached a point where I’m the most comfortable right now. The next game all I have to do is prove that I belong out there starting, and we’ll see what Peter does.”