Louisville City FC midfielder Babacar Niang is set to make his return to the field after a nearly three-month injury layoff Saturday, as LouCity hosts Loudoun United at 7 p.m.
The game is Noche Latina at Lynn Family Stadium. For tickets and more information, visit LouCity.com/nochelatina.
Niang last played on June 20, a Prinx Tires USL Cup group stage game at Detroit City FC. He played 56 minutes in a start as LouCity drew Detroit 0-0. LouCity later earned an additional point in a penalty shootout.
Saturday will mark Niang’s first league appearance since June 3, when he scored in a start at Birmingham Legion FC. Niang has not appeared in a home game at Lynn Family Stadium since April 25, when he played 90 minutes in a USL Cup win over Fort Wayne FC.
The 24-year-old Senegalese midfielder is with LouCity on loan from Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer, joining the club in January. Overall, he has appeared in 13 games for LouCity this season, with six starts in all competitions. That includes eight appearances and two starts in league play. He’s scored twice this year, once in the league.
Niang’s return to the lineup headlines five changes LouCity’s interim head coach Simon Bird has made for Saturday’s game from last week’s 2-1 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC.
Two of those changes come on the backline, with Kyle Adams and Manny Perez starting, while Jake Morris and Sean Totsch move to the bench.
Captain Kyle Adams returns after missing each of the last two games, dating back to last week’s Prinx Tires USL Cup semifinal at San Antonio FC. The 29-year-old has played 1,866 minutes this season, second-most on the team.
Perez scored LouCity’s lone goal against El Paso, from a corner kick in the 77th minute. He will start at right wingback, with Aiden McFadden slotting in a center back, alongside Adams and 17-year-old Brandon Dayes.
Amadou Dia will play at left wingback, after playing at center back the last two games.
That group will play in front of Ryan Schewe, who makes his third straight start after joining on loan from Sporting Kansas City of MLS.
In the midfield, Niang plays in place of reigning USL Championship Player of the Year Taylor Davila, who misses out Saturday with an injury.
Kevon Lambert will start alongside Niang. The pair haven’t started together yet this season, both suffering injury-laden campaigns.
In the attack, Ray Serrano rejoins the starting lineup after not seeing action against El Paso. He will play with Quenzi Huerman and Chris Donovan as the attacking trio.
Leading scorer Jansen Wilson (12 goals/7 league goals) leads the available substitutes, joining Morris and Totsch among last week’s starters on the bench Saturday. Notably, Carlos Moguel Jr. will be available from the bench for the first time since Aug. 31, when he played 31 minutes off the bench at the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Team sheet vs. Loudoun United FC
29 – Ryan Schewe
13 – Amadou Dia
32 – Kyle Adams (c)
5 – Brandon Dayes
2 – Aiden McFadden
15 – Manny Perez
19 – Babacar Niang
31 – Kevon Lambert
7 – Ray Serrano
21 – Quenzi Huerman
9 – Chris Donovan
Available substitutes: 30 – Ryan Troutman; 3 – Jake Morris, 14 – Tola Showunmi, 16 – Carlos Moguel, Jr., 23 – Sam Gleadle, 25 – Jansen Wilson, 27 – Evan Davila, 47 – Mukwelle Akale, 99 – Cooper Conley
