In his fifth full season with Crew SC, defensive midfielder Tony Tchani is emerging as a threat on the opposite end of the ball for his team. The number eight is physical, has a tight touch and hustles box-to-box for the Black & Gold.

Following eight matches barred to the sidelines due to a calf strain, Tchani has returned to the pitch with a visible impact on the game. In four of his last five appearances, the Cameroon native has found his way onto the scoresheet with at least one goal or assist.

His most recent contribution: A perfect finish against Orlando City SC on Saturday at home.

After a one-two with left winger Justin Meram, Tchani said, “the whole defense kind of shifted a little bit so I saw that nobody really followed me and I just slid it in.”

A play sparked by his consistently accurate distribution resulted in his 10th career goal in MLS. Opening his hips to tuck it away back post opened the scoring on the night for Columbus, while Tchani tallied his first finish this season.

Those few touches up the middle could mean trouble for future opponents.

“I think that every team, when they play against us, they know that I really go for defense,” Tchani said. “And now to show that I can go through the middle, I feel that now teams will get prepared to defend either in between the lines or in the flanks.”

Having to combat the cement 6-foot-4-inch Cameroonian is already a task for foes. Add attempting to shut down his precise distribution, powerful strikes from distance and now his combination play in the center of the park, Tchani’s counterparts have their hands full.

His hard work and increasing confidence are paying off as the season progresses — and not just by getting his name on the scoresheet. The 27-year-old’s delivery is showcased as he averages 22.61 passes ending in the final third per match — the second-highest on the team, behind Dilly Duka.

The next team that will have to keep an eye out for Crew SC’s enforcer in the midfield is Toronto FC on Sunday. It’s the third meeting between the two Eastern Conference clubs and the final leg of the Trillium Cup.

Tchani missed the first match against the Reds this season, but after facing them in Columbus not even two weeks ago, he anticipates a different meeting this time around.

“I feel like when I first played at MAPFRE Stadium, they were a little more defensive and it was because they were away from home,” he said. “I feel like at home they will probably have a different mentality, they will attack more, or try to create more chances.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 Sunday night at BMO Field.