VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps are always working on recruitment, says head coach Martin Rennie, and will act if “something jumps out.”

But after finally locking up former English Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker on Thursday — two days after inking Honduran central defender Johnny Leveron — Rennie says he’s very happy with the squad he now has just a week out from the 2013 Major League Soccer regular-season opener.

So lacking in quality depth last season that he had to over-utilize 34-year-old right back Y.P. Lee, Rennie suddenly has plenty of options for midfield and the backline, particularly if the 28-year-old Reo-Coker is truly energized by his new surroundings.

“There are going to be some difficult decisions as to who is in the starting lineup,” Rennie said Thursday in a conference call from the Whitecaps’ pre-season training base in Charleston, S.C.

Asked if it could mean he’ll have to deal with some unhappy players come the season-opener March 2 against the visiting Toronto FC, Rennie reasoned he’d much rather have “good players not happy than bad ones.”

Reo-Coker, probably more of a defensive or controlling midfielder than a true “box-to-box” player, joins an engine-room group that already includes returnees Jun Marques Davidson, who started 24 matches last season, and Matt Watson, newcomer Daigo Kobayashi and rising star Gershon Koffie.

Rennie said Reo-Coker is versatile enough to also play right back. Lee could also shift to his more natural left-side, where Alain Rochat, who Rennie also likes in midfield, is the incumbent and where Jordan Harvey saw action in 26 games.

Leveron and January signing Brad Rusin, a lanky American who was playing most recently in Denmark, give Rennie options to spell 33-year-old central defenders Jay DeMerit and Andy O’Brien when necessary.

• What will Nigel Reo-Coker bring to the Whitecaps?

Reo-Coker has been on the Whitecaps’ radar for a month, but Portland Timbers owned his MLS rights. It wasn’t until this week that a deal was worked out for those rights, with Vancouver giving up second-round SuperDraft picks in 2014 and 2015.

The London-born Reo-Coker made 23 appearances with England’s under-21 team and captained Premier League teams West Ham United, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers at different stages during 259 matches at English soccer’s highest level. He had 15 goals in those 259 games.

He most recently played 10 games with Championship League side Ipswich Town and said he turned down other opportunities in England and Russia to join the Whitecaps.

“I am delighted, it will be a new experience and I can’t wait,” he told Sky Sports in Britain before leaving for North America. “I am looking forward to the challenge. The contract is for four years.

“I have done my research, spoken to Shaka Hislop and Robbie Earle, guys I have played with and who are now working and living there and it is a growing industry and thought it was something I should try.”

He called Vancouver an “amazing city ... and I spoke with people who have been in MLS and are still there, and everything just seemed to fall into place.”

Rennie said he believes Reo-Coker, who turns 29 in May, is still not at his peak and can provide plenty of excitement and leadership and a new dynamic to the club’s midfield. Although he’s only 5-9 and 170 pounds, Reo-Coker is regarded as a physical player who can move forward creatively.

“I’ve spoken to him a lot, (president) Bob (Lenarduzzi) and I spent a lot of time on the phone with him and he convinced us he’s very motivated to do well over here and he wants to be in MLS for a long time.”

Vancouver plays Chicago on Saturday in its final first-team pre-season match. Rennie wouldn’t commit to putting Reo-Coker in the lineup, but noted that “he’s certainly fit” after playing recently in England.

gkingston@vancouversun.com

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