Scotland hitman aiming to end remarkable award-winning year by leading side to historic title

The former Celtic midfielder is aiming to cap off an unforgettable year by helping his side upset the odds and win the Red Bulls first title in their history as they head to California to face LA Galaxy in this Saturday’s championship final (kick-off 9pm GMT).

Recalled to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the European Championships in Germany in the summer, the ex-St Mirren youngster admits lifting the trophy on Sunday would cap off his outstanding last 12 months perfectly. Awarded the prestigious MLS Comeback Player of the Year award in November, Morgan has been one of the MLS’ top performers, scoring 13 goals on his return from a troublesome hip injury that ruled him out of the bulk of the previous campaign.

“In terms of accomplishments, probably this would be the one that I will look back on really, really fondly,” Morgan reflected. “Of course, in terms of all the things I dealt with with the injuries and the comeback, everything that’s come this year, it’s something I think even myself, who has set lofty ambitions all the time, would have thought was a little bit of a stretch. I’m loving it, but a win this weekend would be the deciding factor as to where I’d rank it in my career.”

An unlikely finalist, Morgan has developed into one of the best feared forward in the MLS and has featured heavily in the spectacular run that saw them pull off three consecutive upsets to reach the final of the competition.

Despite only scrapping into the playoffs with seventh-place finish in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey-based outfit toppled rivals New York City, reigning champions Columbus Crew and Orlando City on the way to Saturday’s final, and Morgan believes there’s no reason the underdogs can’t upset the odds once again and secure a historic first title against LA Galaxy in California.

“The guys have just been really switched on and focused the whole time,” he said. “I think we’ve known what the task is at hand. We’ve known we’ve been underdogs going into the games. We’ve embraced that. We’ll embrace that again this weekend, knowing that we’re not expected to go there and run all over LA Galaxy. We’re expected to go there, make things difficult, and try to impose our style of football on them.

“There’s a lot left to go. It’s all well and good being a finalist, but it really counts for nothing if you don’t win it. We’ve never really gotten too far ahead of ourselves or thought we’d achieved anything. We’ve remained pretty grounded in terms of knowing that if we do want to win or achieve anything, it’s going to take a collective group effort.”

The MLS Cup final will take place on Saturday 7 December, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm UK time. The game will be broadcast live on Apple TV with coverage beginning at 9pm.