Young striker making steady improvement for DC United

GORDON WILLIAMS, Star Writer

Michael Seaton has packed on pounds and sprouted inches. But the 17-year-old Jamaican still has some growing up to do before claiming regular playing time at DC United in Major League Soccer (MLS).

"He still got a long way to go," said assistant coach Chad Ashton after Seaton scored against MLS rival Houston Dynamo in a recent United States preseason tournament.

"He understands that. We understand that and I think for us, he needs games."

The speedy Spanish Town-born striker, called up for Jamaica's last Under-17 World Cup qualifying campaign, a pair of senior team internationals against Trinidad and Tobago in November, and upcoming games against Barbados and St Lucia, March 2 and 5, respectively, is destined - again - to play large chunks of 2014 with a lower league US club.

"He will probably spend most of his time with Richmond this year," Ashton confirmed.

Seaton, who appeared 15 times for Richmond Kickers in 2013, scoring five goals, will train with MLS teammates and play matches for the USL Pro League club. He admitted his frame grew in the off season, from 6' 0" 180 pounds listed on United's website to roughly 6' 2" 189 pounds, but his game needs work.

"I still feel as if I don't know the game as much to feel comfortable on the pitch," Seaton said, "because there are times I look shaky."

He showed progress against Houston, calmly controlling a clearance, then firing into the net.

"Back then, I would have hit it one time," he explained. " Taking a touch and then hitting it - the little things pay off."

Seaton received a late MLS call-up in 2013 and played three league matches, starting one. Recently, he was sent to train at Italian club Inter Milan. United also put him in the weight room.

"My rookie season, I was one of the weakest on the team," Seaton admitted. "And now I started throwing blows to a point where coach tells me to calm down."

Overaggression earned him a caution against Houston.

"That's youthful exuberance and wanting to be all over the place and cause havoc," explained Ashton. " At the end of the day, the tackle was reckless and deserving of a yellow card."

But United is patiently shaping Seaton's whole game.

"Physically, he's way beyond his years," said Ashton. "Knowing how to understand, how to use that physicality is a different story, and I think that is in our hands."

Seaton accepts his weaknesses. He wants confidence "to take on a man" and know when to pass or shoot. It's part of growing up.

"I just have to work on decision-making," said Seaton.