Five reasons to be excited about Demar Phillips, incoming RSL left back

Jamaican left back Demar Phillips, who will be signing with Real Salt Lake pending approval of his P1 visa, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed, gives us plenty of reason to be excited about the 2015 season.

Here are five reasons we're excited - and you should be, too - about Phillips' signing.

1. He's a full back that scores goals. And not just a few goals - he's consistently scored goals across his career. He scored 17 in five years at Aalesunds FK, which, for a defender, is a substantial measure. His best goalscoring year was 2011, when he scored a remarkable seven goals for Aalesunds, two of which were penalties. Some of those goals from simply brilliant shots from distance - and that's something Real Salt Lake could use.

2. Not only is he a goalscorer, but he's got an assist or two up his sleeve. He had 20 assists for Aalesunds FK, averaging four per season. Those are similar numbers to now-former RSL left back Chris Wingert, who notched three assists in 2008, 2009 and 2014.

3. He brings a degree of international experience with Jamaica, having played in 62 matches for his nation, scoring twelve goals in the process, including two opening goals in 2014 World Cup qualifying.

4. His career has been relatively injury free. He consistently played for Aalesunds, and while there have been little things - a knee injury that kept him from playing against the United States. Little injuries like that happen, but more substantial injuries can shorten careers. Given he's 31, this sort of knowledge is helpful.

5. He's a veteran player who brings with him a lot of experience - and probably some new ideas from how we've played full back. Often described as a wing back, Phillips could be exactly the sort of player to guide the still-young Abdoulie Mansally as he pushes into the next stage of his career. They'll be battling for minutes first and foremost, but it could be a learning opportunity.

6. He has one of the greatest nicknames in professional soccer: "Peel Head," after his general lack of long hair. His teammates at Aalesunds called him "Forrest Gump" — at least, they did in 2013 — because he was constantly running.