There are a lot of D.C. United players living in Wayne Rooney’s shadow right now. The former England captain has received the bulk of the praise for United’s turnaround in the second half of this season, with nearly all the rest of the plaudits heaped on midfielder Luciano Acosta. The two have accounted for the bulk of United’s offensive production over the past three months and are a joy to watch. Their combination play feels wonderfully alien to United fans who have grown accustomed to watching budget-minded sides flail time and again.



But there is another group of guys—United’s supporting cast—who have been instrumental in D.C.’s recent run of form. Players like Junior Moreno, Yamil Asad, Paul Arriola, and Oniel Fisher have been toiling in the background, putting Wazza and La Joya in positions to get the glory.



Russell Canouse is one of these players. He’s been United’s glue in the center of the...