Unless Kei Kamara allows the coach who traded him to install rungs on his back, Crew SC central defenders will carry a significant size disadvantage into Saturday's game in New England.

The former Crew striker stands 6-foot-3 and, in the words of Gregg Berhalter, is "the biggest aerial threat in the league." You know Kamara would love to stick the final shiv into his old team's fading playoff hopes even as his new side, the Revolution, is reeling as well.

Unless Kei Kamara allows the coach who traded him to install rungs on his back, Crew SC central defenders will carry a significant size disadvantage into Saturday�s game in New England.

The former Crew striker stands 6-foot-3 and, in the words of Gregg Berhalter, is �the biggest aerial threat in the league.� You know Kamara would love to stick the final shiv into his old team�s fading playoff hopes even as his new side, the Revolution, is reeling as well.

New England�s last MLS win came against the Crew, 3-1, on July 9, a game in which Kamara scored a goal, set up another and centered a ball that led to a Columbus own goal. It was arguably his most complete performance since the mid-May trade.

One of the players the Crew (3-8-11) acquired with the allocation money in the Kamara deal was center back Nicolai Naess. The Norwegian defender (6-foot) and Michael Parkhurst (5-11) make for one of the league�s smaller center-back combos. On some nights that won�t be a concern. Against the Kamara and the Revolution – I want to type Prince and the Revolution -- it�s something that bears watching.

VIDEO: Nicolai Naess discusses Kei Kamara

Naess enjoyed a solid debut in the 3-3 tie against New York City FC, playing against technically gifted attackers. Kamara represents a different challenge and Naess will need help, particularly from the Crew fullbacks and wingers to deny time and space to players attempting to cross balls to the rangy forward.

�That�s the key part to it,� holding midfielder Wil Trapp said. �When the ball does get wide, we have to be able to close space and get pressure on the ball. If not, their left back Chris Tierney has excellent service and is willing to cross all the time because he knows he has a big target."

Kamara has four goals in 13 games since the deal. Although he didn�t score on a header against Columbus, his knock down of an early cross helped tee up Lee Nguyen�s goal from the top of the 18-yard box.

The Crew won�t be able to out leap Kamara, so its players must get to the second-chance balls he creates.

The other key is to play aggressive against him without committing fouls in the box. (Chad Barson got away with a trip in the first meeting). Naess has been briefed on what to expect and how he must play against Kamara.

VIDEO: Gregg Berhalter previews New England game

�We�ve got to be tight and physical,� Naess said. �I�ve heard he doesn�t like contact so I�ll have to be hard on him . . . Kei is a big guy. We have to do all we can to be physical on him. He�s a strong guy, but no cards.�

Other notes and quotes from Thursday�s training:

--- Left back Waylon Francis (shoulder) didn�t practice and isn�t expected to play Saturday. Left back Corey Ashe (knee) was limited. Berhalter sounded optimistic about Ashe�s chances.

--- Berhalter won�t name a replacement for Tony Tchani (card accumulation), but the hunch here is Mohammed Saied. Although the physicality of Tchani will be missed, Saied�s passing ability in the middle of the field should give the Crew a different look.

--- Berhalter on a season of frustrating results: �To me, it�s a season of missed opportunities to be honest . . . To think that we�re winless on the road and we�ve tied our last six home games is unfathomable. It�s really hard to come to terms with that because of how we�ve played in a lot of these games.�

--- Berhalter on the importance of Saturday�s match: �There�s a lot of implications behind this game, especially if you win it, you�re back in. If you tie it doesn�t help you much, and if you lose it�s tough.�

--- We�ll have a deeper look behind the Kamara trade on Friday.

treed@dispatch.com

Twitter: @treed1919