The details on Mallan Roberts’s loan move to Ottawa

Canadian defender Mallan Roberts will join the Ottawa Fury on loan from FC Edmonton.

This marks the first direct transaction between the two Canadian NASL teams.

Roberts had been a regular starter for FC Edmonton, but in 2016 had been moved down the depth chart with the acquisition of defender Pape Diakite, who was just named the NASL’s Player of the Month. Now, Roberts will get the chance to go to Ottawa and compete for a central-defence spot with Rafael Alves and Timbo.

Coach Colin Miller said that Edmonton is in “total control” of the move.

“If another team comes in for Mallan, we’re in control of that situation. What Ottawa has done is taken on his salary and hopefully he can get some playing time there.”

Miller said that academy product Marko Aleksic has blossomed, and has moved up the depth chart behind Albert Watson and Diakite.

Roberts would be permitted to play for the Fury in games against FCE; and Miller said that, if needed, the Eddies have the right to recall Roberts.

“Mallan will add good depth to our backline. He’s a good young Canadian player and a very athletic defender,” said Fury head coach Paul Dalglish in a release issued by the club. “With the injuries to (Kyle) Venter and (Rich) Balchan we needed to add depth to our squad and he will now fight for a spot in our back four.”

That could suggest that Roberts or another central midfielder could be shuffled to a fullback spot if needed.

Roberts appeared in one World Cup qualifying match for the Canadian national team — and Miller had lobbied Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro to have a look at the player.

He is just 23 and has already logged over 4,000 minutes of NASL action. Though he has seen very limited playing time in 2016, Fury fans can regard him as being a youthful veteran, if there is such a thing.

“Sometimes, a player needs to leave from where he grew up,” said Miller.