Timbers add young midfielder from England

The Portland Timbers have addressed their need for added left-side depth by acquiring a young player from Leicester City of the English Premier League.
On Wednesday the Timbers announced that 21-year-old Jack Barmby will join the Timbers on loan. Barmby, listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, is expected to arrive in Portland by the end of this week.
The Timbers have been working to add depth on the left wing since Rodney Wallace departed for Portugal. Coach Caleb Porter said he expects Barmby initially to come off the bench in support of wingers Lucas Melano and Dairon Asprilla.
Porter used the words “functional” and “versatile” to describe Barmby.
The functional part includes technical skills — among them the ability to beat defenders and deliver crosses — Barmby developed growing up in the Manchester United youth system and playing professionally in England’s second and fourth divisions.
In terms of versatility, Porter said the left-footed Barmby is capable of playing on either wing or at fullback on either side. He has also played a more central attacking role, Porter noted.
Though specifics of the loan were not announced,  Porter said he expects Barmby to be with the Timbers through the 2016 season. Portland has an option to sign Barmby at the end of the loan agreement.
The acquisition of Barmby continues a successful pattern for the Timbers of adding young players through loan deals that give Portland the option to sign the player to a long-term deal. Striker Fanendo Adi and right back Alvas Powell are players who initially came to the Timbers on loan.
After spending five years with Manchester United’s youth teams, Barmby signed in May of 2014 with Leicester City. He has not yet played in an English Premier League match. He made a combined seven appearances this season in England’s second and fourth divisions on loans to Rotherham United and Notts County.
He spent the second half of the 2013-14 season with Hartlepool United of League Two, scoring five goals in 17 appearances.
The son of former England international Nick Barmby, Jack Barmby has represented England internationally at the under-16, U-18, U-19 and U-20 age levels.
Thoma injured — Porter revealed on Wednesday that reserve fullback Andy Thoma is expected to miss six weeks because of a knee injury. He suffered the injury while playing for Timbers 2 in a Saturday scrimmage against Oregon State.
Porter also said that fullback Chris Klute is making progress, but will likely play at least one more scrimmage or match with T2 before joining the mix for the Timbers,
T2 adds assistant coach — Shannon Murray has been hired as an assistant coach for Timbers 2, T2 head coach Andrew Gregor announced Wednesday. T2 is preparing for its second season in the United Soccer League, which kicks off on March 26.