Ryan Richter feels a bit like a yo-yo these days.

The American defender is part of two clubs this season as a member of Toronto FC on load to Ottawa Fury FC, two clubs that happened to see their respective back lines bitten by the injury bug at the same time.

Throw in a few players called up for international duty, and Toronto had little choice but but to recall Richter for three games to give their defensive corp some depth. Unfortunately for Richter, depth was all he added in his brief return to MLS, dressing as a substitute but not getting into any games.

Richter swung back through Ottawa for a few hours a couple weekends ago, just enough time to play 90 minutes in a 2-2 Fury draw against Carolina before turning around and heading back to TFC immediately after the match.

With Toronto now in decent shape defensively, Richter returned to Fury Wednesday, his loan extended to the end of the NASL season.

"I knew what I was getting myself into," Richter said of going out on loan. "Maybe not going back and forth this much, but I'm cool with it, it's fine."

He's happy to be back in Ottawa and you can't really blame him, considering what's been happening in Toronto lately with coaches being fired and the team losing consistently. Sure, MLS is the top of the North American soccer hierarchy, but sitting on the bench wasn't doing Richter much good.

"I went back for the last three or four games and i wasn't really involved," he said. "I'm happy to be back here where I'll be playing and hopefully getting a look."

The 25-year-old Pennsylvania native fit in quickly and seamlessly with Fury when he first arrived earlier this year, having already played with or against a number of current Fury players. He also knows where he fits in on the pitch.

"There's a lot of things going on (in Toronto) so I don't really know where I stand, here I kind of do," said Richter, who was made seven appearances for Fury this season, playing nearly 600 minutes. "Nothing against them, but with what's going on with the new coaches and a playoff push it wasn't very likely I was going to get many minutes coming down the stretch.

"I think it was the right decision for everybody for me to be here."

As for the difference between leagues, Richter said the operation in Ottawa is top class.

"It makes it easier (coming in) with the way the organization is and the way Marc is," he said. "It's as professional a club as it can get really, with the stadium and everything.

"There's not really that much of a difference in terms of fitting in and the professionalism of it all, Ottawa has everything."

WOODBINE READY

Now under contract with Fury FC, defender O'Brian Woodbine spoke to the media for the first time since officially signing with the club Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Jamaican will bring versatility to Fury's back line and can jump it at right, left or centre back. After a frustrating year with MLS side New England Revolution in which he didn't see any playing time, Woodbine said he jumped at the chance to be part of what Fury coach Marc Dos Santos is building in Ottawa.

"Marc has a good organization (here)," he said. "He's looking towards the future and that's what I'm looking at (too)."

He described his situation with the Revs as "very difficult" but said he made the most out of it.

"I had to be professional, train hard every day and (now I can) move on from them," he said. "I have to work hard still and help Ottawa be a better team."

Though he's a natural right back, Woodbine said he also "loves playing centre back."

As for arriving in the capital as fall makes an early appearance, Woodbine is prepared for the incoming cold, despite being from a hot climate.

"I played in Finland before and it's colder there," he said of his time with Vaasan Palloseura, where he played against current Fury defender Mason Trafford.

Woodbine has also played club soccer in his native Jamaica while featuring for the country internationally as well.

SIDELINES

For the first time this season, Fury's sick bay is empty. Injured forward Carl Haworth (ankle) has resumed full training with the squad and the club should have everyone available this weekend in Atlanta. "It's crazy," said Dos Santos after training, nodding towards athletic therapist Mel Fiala. "Melanie's bored now." ... Defender Jason Gaylord continues to train on trial with Fury, though with everyone healthy, Richter back and Woodbine signed, the immediate need for defensive help has subsided ... Forward/defender Phil Davies was the victim of a hard tackle Wednesday and was down for a while but walked off under his own power and appeared fine ... Ottawa leaves Friday to Atlanta ahead of Saturday night's match against the Silverbacks."

Twitter: @chrishofley