FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In some ways, Ian Harkes has not separated himself from his famous father.
He, too, starred at an elite Atlantic Coast Conference program. He, too, is a midfielder. Before signing a homegrown contract this winter with D.C. United, the team John Harkes captained at MLS’s birth 21 years ago, Ian explored opportunity at Derby County, his dad’s second English employer.
But as rookie reticence gives way to swelling self-confidence this spring, the younger Harkes is carving a clear identity.
The last name’s the same; the second-generation player is an original.
Saturday marked his sixth consecutive start since watching the opener from the bench.