In the bowels of CITYPARK not long after Saturday’s game ended, Jayden Reid sat in disbelief as he faced a room full of reporters inside the stadium’s media room. Reid, officially called-up from CITY2 hours before the match against Atlanta United, was still trying to wrap his head around the opportunity he had just received to play a game in Major League Soccer.
“This is stuff that happens in video games,” Reid said, “and I can’t believe it’s happening to me right now.”
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Reid not only received the promotion on Saturday, he started and played all 90 minutes at left back. Reid didn’t merely occupy the role, either. His debut was exceptionally encouraging—he picked up his first MLS assist when Indiana Vassilev broke the club’s scoring drought early in the second half.
And with CITY short on defenders, Reid immediately inserted himself into the conversation surrounding the starting job.
“We knew this on Thursday morning, that this would be a potential to put him in,” head coach Bradley Carnell said. “We made all the necessary arrangements. We know we can call him up twice. We know he has some MLS experience as well. We know he plays on our principles. We know he’s doing a great job at CITY2. So for us, it was a no brainer.”
CITY’s left back starting job has been up for grabs since John Nelson’s red card last season allowed newly-acquired Anthony Markanich to step in and win the favor of Carnell. Although Markanich has done a fine job in 2024, the position has at times been exploited by CITY’s opponents. That has led to a revolving door of players stepping into the role, depending on circumstances. Carnell is still looking for a permanent option and Reid seems to have an opportunity to earn the job.
“Credit to him, the CITY2 staff, himself for developing the right way and being open-minded enough to grow within our CITY2 program,” Carnell said. “Now, the platform is open for competition. I have just spoken to all the defenders. Competition is a good thing.”
This wasn’t Reid’s first MLS appearance. His debut with the New York Red Bulls last season, however, was ever so brief. But Reid has shown this season that he could be a helpful depth option in St. Louis. Ardent CITY2 followers probably weren’t surprised with Reid’s level of calm in a potentially stressful appearance. That said, as a player who wasn’t on the roster at the start of the week, Reid may have surprised even himself with his performance.
“Honestly, it felt huge.” Reid said. “’I’m still trying to take everything in right now. Like, it’s not processing yet. I feel like when I get home, it’s all going to hit me. I just feel like I’m in a dream, like part of my dreams are being actualized. I’ve worked so hard for this and I’m just happy that some hard work is paying off.”
Reid is living the dream of so many of his CITY2 teammates. Like Brendan McSorley in his CITY debut last Wednesday, Reid was not expecting to start until late in the pre-game proceedings. But he was grateful when he received the call.
“I got the call to train with the first team, and I was like, ‘Wow, could this be it?’” Reid said. “Now I need to focus. Everything needs to be sharp in training, in practice, and the game. Thursday came, I trained with the team and tried to put my full focus in. And then Friday, it was the next step. Then I heard about the possibility of being able to get a start. And I was like, ‘Wow, is this really happening right now? We come in [Saturday] and I find out and I’m just grateful and blessed.”
