Sam Surridge

Sam Surridge

 Nashville SC

Sam Surridge didn’t take much time to make a big impression during his first MLS season.

Signed in July 2023 as a third designated player for Nashville SC, the English-born striker debuted with a bang, scoring in each of his first three games during Leagues Cup competition. He posted three goals and two assists in his first four contests.

But Surridge’s production waned when Nashville returned to MLS play, as he managed just two goals in the team’s final 12 contests.

Heading into this week’s 2024 season opener, the hope is that Surridge will have gained from last year’s experiences, as well as from his first offseason and training camp with Nashville SC.

The Boys in Gold open Concacaf Champions Cup play on Thursday at Moca FC in the Dominican Republic and return home for Sunday’s MLS opener against the New York Red Bulls.

“He definitely has a much greater understanding and footing in the group, especially with some of the preparations this preseason,” Nashville coach Gary Smith said of Surridge. “He came in [to training camp] in great physical shape, looked very bright again [in a scrimmage against Memphis 901 FC] and got himself into some really good positions.

“I’ve enjoyed watching him … I think looking at him, and having spoken to him, he feels far more confident about where he’s going to be, what sort of areas he needs to be getting into, and the combination play that’s achieving some nice opportunities for him.”

A more engaged, more productive Surridge would be one way Nashville SC can improve its firepower, after finishing with just 39 goals in 34 games last year — the seventh-lowest figure in the 29-team league. The Boys in Gold scored just five goals in their last 12 games, going 1-6-5 during that stretch, which included two playoff losses against Orlando City SC.

Nashville also has high hopes for trade acquisition Tyler Boyd, a forward who posted 13 contributions (eight goals, five assists) for LA Galaxy last year in his debut MLS season.

Under Smith, the Boys in Gold have traditionally been a defensive-minded club, inclined to create more of their scoring opportunities through quick transitions rather than by dominating ball possession.

But perhaps Nashville’s new personnel, which in addition to Boyd includes midfielders Dru Goodyear and McKinze Gaines, will help the Boys in Gold alter their playing style just a bit.

“I would say one of the biggest positives has been the appetite of the players to really apply themselves, and the willingness to be a little more aggressive with and without the ball,” Smith said. “Of course, preseason is always a process anyways, but I think the attitude of the players and the willingness of the players has been spot on.”

It’s unclear just how much three of the team’s veterans will be able to play at the beginning of the schedule.

Midfielder Hany Mukhtar, who has scored 54 goals over the past three seasons, had a foot injury at the start of training camp but did play 90 minutes in last week’s preseason game against Memphis.

Defenders Walker Zimmerman and Daniel Lovitz missed part of training camp due to injuries, but both played at least some minutes against Memphis.

“That’s a real positive,” Smith said. “But as you might imagine, they’re behind in their competitive minutes at the moment, and we need to try and find the right course of action here to keep this physical momentum going.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.