English veteran Darel Russell to try his luck with TFC

If Darel Russell impresses TFC coach Ryan Nelsen enough to earn a contract, the stability of an MLS club might be a welcome change.

TFC announced that the English midfielder has joined the club for a trial.

At the end of January, after signing a series of one-month contracts, Russell left Portsmouth — a team that’s been forced to sign many players on rotating, short-term deals as it tries to survive being forced into administration, and is still searching for an owner.

Russell joined Portsmouth, which just ended a nine-game losing streak and sits second from the bottom of the English League One table, at the beginning of the 2012-13 season. When he left, he had this to say on Twitter: “I signed more contracts at Pompey than in my whole career and played up until the end of ‘em. I am one of the last still standing.”

Russell made over 200 career appearances for Norwich and more than 170 for Stoke City. He can play a holding role or as a wide right player. But the big question mark is Russell’s age. He turns 33 in October.