Playing with Kaka, huge crowds and life in Orlando... 10 MLS questions for Seb Hines

Orlando City defender Seb Hines (Pic: Orlando City)

After playing at Middlesbrough for nearly his whole career, Seb Hines has been loving life at Orlando City in MLS.

Hines traded his hometown club for the Lions before their inaugural MLS season last year, and so far he's been a regular starter for the club, who finished just outside the play-off places in seventh last season.

Two games into the 2016 campaign, and Orlando have picked up two home points, most recently a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire.

Orlando now travel to Yankee Stadium to take on New York City FC - live on Sky Sports - where Hines will be responsible for marking one of the best players in the league in David Villa.

We asked Hines 10 MLS-related questions, as he tells us all about life across the pond and playing in one of America's rapidly growing football hotbeds.

How would you assess Orlando as a place for football... or 'soccer'?

Orlando played out a 2-2 draw in front of over 60,000 fans in their opening game of the season against Real Salt Lake

The buzz for soccer around Orlando, whoever you talk to, is just unbelievable.

We had 60,000 fans there for our first game on the opening day [against Real Salt Lake] which was amazing and we could leave the stadium with our head held high after going 2-0 down and bringing it back to make it 2-2.

Wherever you go around Orlando you see a sea of purple, it's a carnival atmosphere on the streets and the city's taken to football in America.

How would you compare the fan culture and gameday experience to England?

A very different fan experience in MLS compared to England

I feel it's more of an event. People make more of a day of it, even from getting there five hours before a game, they'll be there outside the stadium with barbeques and picnics.

They're really all up for the game prior to the match whilst in England I felt like you just turned up.You might go to the pub before you go to the game. It's more for the families here and I can't talk highly enough about the fans.

Other English players and former team-mates you talk to in MLS?

Seb Hines spoke to Giles Barnes (R) before deciding to make the move to MLS

We had Sean St. Ledger here, he's at Colorado now but I keep in touch with him. I see a couple of players who we're up against like Bradley Wright-Phillips and my former team-mate at Middlesbrough Kei Kamara.

Giles Barnes [at Houston Dynamo], I spoke to him before I came out here asking about the league and how it's set up and he said: 'you'll enjoy it mate, it's definitely an exciting league to be involved in'.

An attractive prospect to play in MLS?

A trip to Disneyland after training is a very realistic option for Hines

MLS is a well-run organisation, it's exciting, if you have the opportunity to play out here then you should definitely think about it.

I've enjoyed every moment of it. After training I could go to the pool, the beach, Disneyland, I could go wherever! It's amazing, whereas in Middlesbrough you don't get those sorts of opportunities to do that.

Even in the off-season I just stay, because if I was back home I would go back out of Orlando to go on holiday. I just make full use of what's around me.

What is it like playing alongside Kaka and what kind of influence does he have?

Kaka is Orlando City's captain

It's massive. He's a leader for our team. He's played at the highest level. He's won every competition that a footballer wants to win and I can't speak highly enough of him.

We've got a lot of young players in the team and we need his experience to drive us on and become winners.

Other Orlando players to look out for?

Orlando City striker Cyle Larin has scored 19 goals in 29 matches

I would say Cyle Larin. Everything he touches turns into goals. He's young, he's exciting and definitely one to watch for the future.

We have got a young team with a lot of young players. I'm classed as a senior, a veteran and I'm 27!

A lot of these players come straight from college and into a professional environment which is exciting for them and a massive learning curve.

Are you looking forward to seeing former AC Milan and West Ham midfielder Antonio Nocerino in action?

Hines says Nocerino brings high level experience to the side

He's a very good technical player, we haven't seen much of him because he's just come in so it'll be good to see how he does in the team and what he can bring.

He definitely adds the talent, he also has experience of playing at the highest level. You don't play for AC Milan and then be rubbish so he is definitely a great addition to our team.

How do you compare MLS to the Championship?

Hines (L) was owned by Middlesbrough since the start of his career before moving to MLS

I would say it's one of the highest leagues in the world.

You've got the Premiership, La Liga, Serie A, after that I'm not sure if you would find World Cup winners, Ballon D'or winners in the same league.

You have to be so, so aware of everyone's talent so it's definitely a growing league, it will only get bigger with the players coming over from Europe and I'm glad that I'm a part of it and see the development over the seasons.

Play New York City FC this weekend - what is it like as a defender going up against the likes of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo?

Hines will be up against the likes of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa on Friday evening

You want to play against the best players in the world and that's definitely something you can do out here in MLS.

One week you play David Villa, the next you might be playing Didier Drogba. You don't see those types of players in the Championship so it's definitely a great challenge for me and the younger players in our team.

I played against David Villa three times last year and he's definitely a talent. He's won World Cups, he's won Champions Leagues so we're all aware of what he's capable of.

It's just trying to contain him and give him minimal chances against us [on Friday].

Is MLS Cup being spoken about?

The Philip F. Anschutz trophy - or better known as MLS Cup

Right now we need to make play-offs. We fell one game too short [last year] and when you make the play-offs anything can happen.

Last year Portland won it and we managed to beat Portland away [last year] so we know that we're more than capable of making it.

We're all in high hopes but right now we're just trying to make play-offs and win as many games as we can.