If Kris Boyd's first season with the Timbers resembles his first training session, the Timbers will be a very happy squad.

Boyd, the Timbers' high-profile addition who joined the team Tuesday, immediately showed why the Timbers are paying him a bunch of money by scoring two goals during a scrimmage game Tuesday morning.

"He had a nice goal to start off and he hit it through a defender's legs," midfielder Sal Zizzo said. "Some people think that's luck. But you can tell he's a good finisher, because he knows that the defender is going to reach out (with his leg) and he kind of shoots it through his legs."

Boyd's goal-scoring occurred after the Timbers held a media event to announce his arrival in Portland. The Scottish forward is expected to help Portland in the crucial area of goal-scoring as the Timbers prepare for their MLS regular season opener against Philadelphia March 12.

"He was brought here for one reason and one reason only," Portland coach John Spencer said. "To score goals."

The Timbers hope Boyd, the team's designated player who is reportedly being paid around $1.2 million - a portion of a designated player's salary counts against the MLS salary cap - this season, can duplicate his goal scoring days in the Scottish Premier League (SPL).

Boyd, 28, is the SPL's all-time leading goal scorer, with 164 goals in 296 appearances with Kilmarnock (2000-05) and Rangers (2006-10). He won the goal scoring title four times and also has made 18 appearances with the Scottish National Team.

Boyd was signed to replace Kenny Cooper, the Timbers' big-name signing in 2011, the team's inaugural season. But Cooper - traded to New York for a first-round draft pick in 2013 and allocation money Jan. 12 - scored a disappointing eight goals and never fit into Spencer's system.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said he expects Boyd to score at least 10 goals during the regular season. Boyd, who signed with the Timbers Jan. 30 but couldn't join the team until he secured his visa, said he welcomes the pressure of being designated as the team's top striker and highest-paid (by far) player.

"You're expected to score goals," Boyd said. "It's something you need to deal with. That's a challenge you put upon yourself."

That's the kind of talk that convinced the Timbers they have the right man for their target forward position.

"When (Timbers general manager) Gavin (Wilkinson), John and I sat down after last season and did a team assessment, the number one need we had was a target striker. A pure goal scorer," Paulson said. "We had a number of very good players lined up that we thought could fill that hole. When we heard Kris Boyd was available, everything dropped. (It was) a complete focus on Kris."

What's ironic about Boyd is he joins the Timbers with his career in need of a boost, the same as Cooper was looking to revive his career when he signed with Portland.

Boyd has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances since leaving the SPL. He signed with Middlesbrough and was loaned to Nottingham Forest of England's League Championship division, scoring a combined total of 12 goals in 39 appearances with the two teams in 2010. Then came the disastrous stint with Turkish Super Lig team Eskisehirspor. Boyd signed a multi-year contract with Eskisehirspor in July, but terminated the deal in December, claiming he was never paid. He left the team after having played a total of 76 minutes.

Boyd returned to Scotland to reassess his career and decide on a path forward. That path reached across the Atlantic Ocean to MLS and Portland.

"I want to get my career back on track," Boyd said. "Here's a great chance to do that."

Boyd said the decision to sign with Portland came after speaking to Spencer, Wilkinson and Billy Davies (a coach in England and Spencer's brother-in-law).

"(After that), my mind was made up and I was ready to come (to Portland) and play," Boyd said.

A jet-lagged Boyd said he'll need about two weeks to regain his fitness and conditioning. He'll see some game action when the Timbers compete in a four-team (San Jose Earthquakes, Chivas USA and Swedish team AIK) tournament next week. Boyd, who arrived in Portland Monday afternoon after a long trip from Scotland, admitted he was still tired Tuesday. But he summoned enough energy to score twice in his first training appearance with the team.



"I want to start scoring goals," Boyd said. "That's the most important thing for me."



Notes: Zizzo, who is still rehabilitating his surgically-repaired left knee, said he'll visit the medical staff (Wednesday) to determine if he can increase the pace and intensity of his rehab. …Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe continues to be limited to light jogging while nursing a sore right ankle. …Right back Lovel Palmer (right hamstring) also did not train.



-- Geoffrey C. Arnold; follow him on Twitter.