New York City FC's "man-monster" Khiry Shelton continues meteoric rise with assist in first pro start

NEW YORK – His star is on a meteoric rise, but New York City FC rookie Khiry Shelton remains grounded.

“That’s the way I grew up, military family, pretty disciplined,” Shelton said. “My thing is consistency. That’s what Jason [Kreis, NYCFC head coach] expects of me, to keep pushing even though I’m young. That’s what I have to keep doing.”

Shelton, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft, has been brought along slowly by Kreis, providing a spark off the bench four times this season. But on Thursday night, Shelton earned his first start of his budding MLS career in a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union.

“It’s amazing, it’s a blessing,” Shelton said after the game. “I’ve been training hard, working hard. People have been noticing that I have been doing that, and the staff gave me an opportunity today, and I was lucky enough to be out there and play a full 90.”

• READ: NYCFC still looking for complete performance after surrendering late vs. Union

Shelton troubled the Union with his speed throughout. In the 23^rd minute he beat Maurice Edu and goalkeeper John McCarthy to a ball, but Sheanon Williams calmly cleared Shelton’s cross off the line.

In the 38^th minute, Shelton again rounded McCarthy, but his cross following a brief scramble was cleared away for a corner.

Shelton nearly had his first MLS goal in the 76^th minute, but his attempt from the left edge of the 18-yard box bounced just wide of the far post.

“What can you say? I thought he was awesome,” NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders said. “He’s a man-monster.”

Shelton was also instrumental in Mehdi Ballouchy’s first goal in a little more than three years, picking up his first MLS assist.

“I let the ball come across my body and saw a gap between the outside defender and their outside mid, and I just played it to Mehdi and he put it away – great finish,” Shelton said.

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Shelton, who previously played for the US Under-18 national team, was also coming off the U-23 squad’s recent camp, which included friendlies against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Denmark ahead of Olympic qualifying.

“It was eye-opening. It’s a great team, a great coaching staff. I enjoyed my time, and hopefully I get another chance with that team,” Shelton said. “I felt like I played well when I went down there. We got a good result against Bosnia and not a great result against Denmark. At the end of day it was a great opportunity, and I was blessed.”