TUCSON, Ariz. ― Niko Hansen fell behind before he even started in 2019.

The former Crew winger had a hamstring injury that kept him out of the 18-man match-day roster for the first few weeks, then never made the impact he needed to convince coach Caleb Porter that he should be part of Porter’s plans moving forward.

Hansen, 25, was traded to the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 8 for mere pocket change ― $75,000 in targeted allocation money ― and saw just 33 minutes in four games with the Dynamo.

But with a goal and an assist in a preseason match Wednesday, Hansen showed signs that a trying year that made some question whether he could play consistently in Major League Soccer might be behind him.

He isn’t expected to be a starter in Houston, but there is more of an opportunity there than there would be for him in Columbus.

"The club from the beginning wanted me to make an impact and it wasn't going to be coming in right away and be a starter or be the main guy,” Hansen said. “I had to work for it. That's my game. I always, even when I was back in Columbus, I always worked for my position and always worked to be on the field.”

The 2017 first-round Crew draft pick (ninth overall) made just nine appearances in 2019 before being traded, a year after he made 22 appearances.

Hansen said he left the Crew on amicable terms. He could read the tea leaves and thought there would be opportunity elsewhere.

“I think it was mutual,” Hansen said. “In the grand scheme of things, it was what was best for both of us and for the club and for me. That's the way it ended up going.”

Hansen will face his former club for the first time since being traded on Saturday in the preseason finale for both clubs. They will play again at Mapfre Stadium on Sept. 12.

Hansen had high praise for the design of the new downtown stadium and believes the Crew will have a strong team this season.

“I'm happy for everything the direction has taken for the Crew,” Hansen said, “and for the Nordecke and the fans, thank you for everything and (I) wish you the best of luck this next season.”

jmyers@dispatch.com

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