Hertzog “excited” to join the FC Edmonton team he scored against earlier this season

When striker Corey Hertzog found out that the Vancouver Whitecaps were planning to send him on loan to FC Edmonton, he sat down and talked with defender Carlyle Mitchell.

Mitchell spent most of the spring on loan with the Eddies, before being recalled to the MLS side in early June. So Mitchell was able to provide Hertzog with some ideas of what he could expect in the NASL.

“I talked to Carlyle as soon as I found out, and he only had good things to say about the team,” said Hertzog, who arrived in Edmonton Wednesday and had his medical Thursday. “He said it’s a good bunch of guys. Now I’m looking forward to helping this team get some wins.”

Mitchell did mention the one negative, the turf field at Clarke Stadium. In May, Mitchell was hurt when he caught his ankle in the turf. It’s a non-contact turf injury suffered in training that is keeping striker Daryl Fordyce out of the Eddies lineup, which may open a place for Hertzog when FCE hosts the San Antonio Scorpions on Sunday.

But Hertzog doesn’t mind the fake stuff. “That doesn’t matter much to me, I don’t mind playing on the turf.”

And that means he’s ready to dance between the football lines this weekend.

“I think I am ready to play. I just want to get off to a good start and see what I can do. I am looking forward to getting the playing time. I’m excited to be here. As a forward, you want to be on the field, to get minutes, to get as many chances to score goals as you can.”

Hertzog had one goal in MLS play this year, which came against the San Jose Earthquakes. But FCE supporters will remember his 35-yard screamer in the second leg of this year’s Amway Canadian Championship semifinal between the Eddies and Whitecaps at BC Place. After winning the first leg 3-2, the Whitecaps scored twice after the Eddies went down to 10 men, and won the semifinal with a 5-2 aggregate scoreline. But Hertzog’s wonder goal was the memorable moment of that second leg — and, ironically, it might have ended up being a major factor in him coming to Edmonton.

“I know coach Colin (Miller) has been looking at me for a little while, and maybe that goal helped get his attention. Maybe scoring that goal helped me move here.”

And, from playing against, Edmonton, what did he think of the team?

“Yeah, I was impressed with them. I thought they played really well in the midfield. They were unlucky to go down to 10 men, that was lucky for us. I think they played really well against us.”