Andrew Farrell is a center back...for now

Andrew Farrell has been asked to do a lot of switching during his seven-year MLS career.

Originally deployed as a right back when he entered the league in 2013, Farrell made a full-time switch to the center in 2015 to replace the departing A.J. Soares. Although he played the position in college, Farrell never truly looked comfortable, prompting a move back to the right.

Farrell returned to the middle this season, largely out of necessity due to various injuries. He has performed well, however, allowing him to keep the spot even as other options emerged.

Nevertheless, Farrell is still learning the position, though head coach Bruce Arena is happy with the way he’s tackling the challenge.

“A lot of this is still new for Andrew,” Arena noted. “He’s still learning a little bit about his positioning, how to play out of the back from that position, but he’s made progress and he’s had really a good run in that position since I’ve been here.”

It’s currently unknown if Farrell will return to the right or make the middle his home. In fact, Arena himself isn’t sure. For now, Farrell is expected to continue to play center back, especially since Antonio Delamea left Saturday's game early with a hamstring injury.

“[Farrell] has to be a center back right now,” Arena explained. “You know, we’re really thin in the back.

“Michael Mancienne was in our 18 tonight for the first time in, I would think, three or four months, I don’t even know. So, that’s good to get him back and now it looks like Toni is going to be out. So, Andrew’s certainly going to be playing in that position.”