Dominic Oduro had a moment of reflection during the Crew's season-opening victory at D.C. United on March 8. He was watching the game at Fourth Street Bar and Grill with other Crew supporters because a red-card suspension from last year's season finale forced him to miss the opener.

Dominic Oduro had a moment of reflection during the Crew�s season-opening victory at D.C. United on March 8. He was watching the game at Fourth Street Bar and Grill with other Crew supporters because a red-card suspension from last year�s season finale forced him to miss the opener.

On the screen, Oduro saw Federico Higuain send a pass into open space for forward Jairo Arrieta behind D.C. United�s defense � a ball that likely would have gone to Oduro, had he been in uniform.

�I was like, �Oh my God, that is me right there,� � Oduro said. �Somebody (at the bar) screamed, �Get Dom over there.� �

He will have his chance on Saturday, when the Crew plays its home opener against the Philadelphia Union. With his suspension complete, Oduro said he has been counting the days until he could be on the field after re-signing with the Crew.

The problem coach Gregg Berhalter faces is where � and when � to use Oduro. The Crew�s leading scorer last season, Oduro played forward and on the right side of the midfield while totaling a career-high 13 goals. But in the 3-0 victory over D.C. United, both players in those positions made an impact.

Arrieta scored the first goal, which was helped by a perfect pass from midfielder Hector Jimenez that freed defender Josh Williams along the sideline to play in the cross to Arrieta. Both Arrieta and Jimenez played crucial roles in the Crew�s ability to possess the ball and control the game.

�We know Dom is going to be on the field helping this team; it�s just a matter of where and when,� Berhalter said. �Those are the two questions. The team has been going good so far. It has been a good balance, and we have to find the right way to work Dom into it.�

Jimenez said Oduro has been �nothing but positive since I�ve got here. He has been great.�

Oduro is listed as a midfielder on the team�s website after spending much of his career expressing his preference to play up top. Since Berhalter�s staff showed him statistics proving that he was slightly more effective in the midfield than at forward, however, Oduro said he now embraces the thought of being labeled a midfielder.

Of his 13 goals last season, six came as the team�s target forward, six came on the right side of the midfield and one when he was paired up top with Arrieta.

�I think I feel a little comfortable (in the midfield) right now because I get to take guys one-on-one and create space for the team,� Oduro said. �I like the fact that I�m able to open up space for our team.�

Assuming, that is, that he�s in the lineup.

�It�s a long season and you don�t know how stuff is going to unfold,� Berhalter said. �A lot of guys are going to play a big role on this team, and I�m sure it�s going to be more than 11.�

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy