As on-loan Brighton striker Jurgen Locadia prepares for the final three matches of his loan spell with FC Cincinnati, it is fair to say he has not hit the heights in the MSL.

The 27-year-old striker has only scored three goals in 24 appearances during his two season-long spells in America.

But Pat Brennan who covers them for the Cincinnati Enquirer believes luck has not been on Locadia’s side.

He told the Argus: “He has been unlucky, I remember there was a destination style tournament in July to get soccer going again in the midst of the pandemic, the group stage results counted towards the league table and the knockout rounds didn’t it was a bit much to wrap your head around.

“Then they returned to play in market as we say over here and he had great games where he would take over and change the complexion of a match, but just could not finish.

“I think he definitely lost confidence along the way, you could see that in his body language. You also look at Cincinnati as a club which is in its third season in the MLS, it is not a mirror-based system in terms of getting into the first division, you pay your way in.

“But the transition from life as a third and second division team into a first division team has been really rough.

“In over two seasons in the MLS, they have won 11 matches. In the first season, they conceded the most goals in a single season in the league’s history.

He added: “Last season the season was shortened by 11 matches due to the pandemic, but on a per-game basis they then scored the fewest goals in league history.

“So last year they invested more than they ever had in the roster and that group never really came together, so you really didn’t have a dynamic player in the number ten role and the whole team suffered from that but Jurgen did especially due to a lack of service.

“Then you throw in his lack of confidence, even when the service was on the ball was coming off the crossbar or the post, it just would not happen for him, and in a situation like that the confidence is going to go as he is only human.

“So, he has lacked talented players around him and a club that has admittedly not started off life in the MLS very well at all it has not been easy for him.”

Locadia has played under Manchester United and Dutch legend Jaap Stam during his time at Cincinnati.

But Brennan admits he has not been a regular under Stam.

He said: “I don’t know if it has helped or hurt him.

“He didn’t have much of a big role in the team for the first six matches this season. He started two of those six and if you wanted to give the guy a stage on which to make a closing argument to keep him around, they have really not given him that opportunity.

“Jurgen scored off the bench against Montreal two weeks before the break and then started against New England in the final match before the break and looked great.

“But he has averaged about 40 or so minutes per appearance, so when you look at it like that Jaap is not selecting him.

“There is a lot of Dutch influences within the club the general manager Gerard Nijkamp is Dutch, they have Dutch scouts based in Europe, the colours scheme of the badge is orange and blue. I think no club in the MLS leans more heavily on a national identity than FC Cincinnati does, relative to its Dutch heritage.

He added: “Jaap does not show favouritism towards the Dutch players at least not Jurgen.

“But he has backed him and expressed an appreciation for Jurgen’s situation for being a big player on a big wage, with him having been there before.

“Jaap has been impartial and fair with his team selection and Jurgen has only been in the picture half the time.”

FC Cincinnati have not played since the end of last month, with them currently on an international break.

When they return Locadia looks set to make his final three appearances with them not taking up their buy option within the loan.

But Brennan insists he will be missed by the fans.

He said: “Jurgen has brought leadership qualities to the team. They had an absolute nightmare against New York City in April where they lost 5-0 with all five being conceded from set-pieces.

“Jurgen did not play a role in that game, he came off the bench and it was miserable, which took me back to some of the really low moments in that initial first season in the MLS.

“The whole situation begged for anyone within the club to come out and apologise and say something, acknowledge how bad it was, and put the supporters at rest.

“Jurgen was the first one to speak out and he was one of three that did in the end and people appreciated that.

“He chose Cincinnati, I’m sure there were reasons that led him to doing so.

He added:“So, there is a section of the fanbase who will miss him, despite the fact that his stay here to date has been frankly a disappointment.

“So, if he can get hot over the next few weeks and do well it would give everyone a very nice feeling, a very positive feeling at the end of what started out as a very hopeful and promising relationship between Jurgen and the club.”