COLUMBUS -- Eddie Gaven will celebrate his birthday Oct. 25 and some fans might be surprised he is not ready to retire to the MLS Old Folks' Home.
"People forget he's only 21 years old. There's still a lot of progress to be made," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said.
"He's what, 22?" teammate Frankie Hejduk asked. "He's been in the league so long you think he's much older than that."
"It's probably because of my beard, to be honest," Gaven said.
Actually, he will turn 22 next month, but the Hamilton, N.J., native is already in his sixth season as a pro after making his debut with New York in 2003.
"It feels like a really long time ago when I was 16 years old and first coming into the league," he said. "Every time I look back, it seems like a totally different life almost."
While he is a veteran of MLS play, the midfielder is not too old to learn the nuances of game such as making a connection with the right back, Hejduk. The pair has become more comfortable feeding off each other as the season progressed, especially since Gaven's return from a sprained ankle on Aug. 2.
The pair reached a zenith Sept. 18 vs. New York when Hejduk made attacking forays into the final third that resulted in his first goal in more than three years and later an assist on Gaven's goal that iced a 3-1 victory.
"To get used to your outside midfielder is a year-long process," Hejduk said. "Once you do start clicking, which I think we are doing now, both his game and my game are improving. The last few games he's been on."
Gaven's two goals for the season and one of his two assists have come in the past five games. He has 27 goals and 25 assists in 145 career games, including 19 matches this season.
"Frankie helps me out so much," he said. "He plays great defense. He's a tireless worker. He's really helped me as far as my defensive shape this year -- when to go, when to stay, when to hold a little bit. As far as on offense he's always overlapping me. He gives us width, lets me be able to tuck in more. So far things have gone well."
One of Gaven's strength is his willingness to contribute at both ends of the field. It's an attribute Hejduk appreciates.
"He's a worker. He's a lot faster than he looks," said Hejduk. "He helps me defend a lot more in terms of doubling teaming guys and when to double team, when to stay and cheat a little bit. Him and I are getting an understanding of each other."
The season took a detour for Gaven when he was injured during a U.S. Open Cup match June 10 against Chicago and missed nearly two months. It also cost him any shot of making the U.S. Olympic team after he appeared in all five qualifying games and had three goals and an assist.
His return to the Crew lineup coincided with left winger Robbie Rogers leaving to play for the USA in the Beijing Olympics.
"I wished the guys all the best," Gaven said. "I watched all the games and was cheering for them. It was tough for me not to go but to be honest I just wanted to come back and play because anytime you're on the bench and can't be playing for five or six weeks it always gives you that itch to come back and play."
Gaven mainly played on the left while Rogers was gone then switched back to his usual spot on the right.
"He was obviously disappointed not making the (Olympic) team with injuries but Eddie's a pretty keep-your-nose-to the grindstone type of guy," Schmid said. "Right when he hurt his ankle against Chicago he was on an uptick. He was starting to play much better and that injury came at a bad time."
Now that Gaven is healthy again he and the Crew have been on a roll. Columbus has five wins and a tie in the past six games to clinch a playoff spot and is leading the overall standings heading into Saturday's match at New England.
"He's getting behind defenses. He's keeping possession. He's battling for balls and he's getting good service in the box," midfielder Brian Carroll said. "He's playing well and helping the team out. It's a reason we've had some success."
Gaven takes the compliments in stride. "I'm feeling very confident right now but everybody on the team feels that way," he said. "Whenever everyone on the team feels that way it brushes off on all the players."
Besides, he knows more is expected of him now that he is approaching the ripe old age of 22.
"He can run up and down. He doesn't tire. For that position out wide you need a motor and he's definitely got one," Hejduk said. "Once he starts getting his confidence in shooting the ball he's going to start scoring a lot of goals."
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