But he has made the most of his minutes in the midfield.

Moffat scored twice in the first six games of 2008 before suffering a knee sprain. He missed three games and then suffered a torn ligament in the same (right) knee in his first game back, ending his season.

He was not healthy enough to play in the first four games of this season. He did start two games in April, but a left hamstring injury suffered in the second game kept him out until late July.

He has played an average of 11 minutes the past three games, including the final six minutes of a 3-0 victory last Saturday over the San Jose Earthquakes.

He entered in the 84th minute and scored the game's final goal in the 86th.

"I always say when you're a sub you can do 90 minutes' work in 10 or 20 minutes," Moffat said. "I wasn't going to hold anything back. As a sub you want to come in and make a difference."

He might get more time tonight against FC Dallas. Central midfielder Brian Carroll will serve a one-game yellow-card suspension, and Moffat could make his first start since April.

Coach Robert Warzycha, as usual, would not hint at who would start, but he said Moffat is capable of playing more minutes.

"He has bite," Warzycha said. "He is aggressive. You can stick him anywhere on the field because of his determination and his willingness to help teammates."

Moffat, 23, had played only eight games before this season, but his importance has never been underestimated by the Crew.

After a season with the minor-league Cleveland City Stars and two seasons in the Scottish lower divisions, Moffat has shown wit and wisdom beyond his years. He is affable and tenacious.

"I never saw him play (with Cleveland), but I remember how he played when he came down here and trained with us," Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers said. "I thought he must be 28 or 29, and then I found out he was only a year older than me.

"He has a bright future. The most important thing about a player is if they love to come to training, love going to games, love watching the sport. He does. It's refreshing."

Moffat has never let his injuries get the better of him.

"They happen," he said. "But I'm still young and I'm still getting paid and I've still been able to come to training. Some guys never get that chance."

smitchell@dispatch.com