Mathis Not Reserved About Role Off Bench

It’s no secret that Clint Mathis wants to be a starter for the Galaxy, but with the return of Carlos Hermosillo three weeks ago and Cobi Jones planted at the other forward, there’s no room up front for Mathis.

That hasn’t stopped Mathis from playing like a starter.

Last week, in only his second non-start of the season, Mathis scored two goals and added an assist in a 4-2 Galaxy victory at Tampa Bay. The Galaxy (9-6), winners of four in a row, play host to Miami (4-12) tonight at the Rose Bowl at 7:30. A regulation victory could move Los Angeles within two points of Western Conference leader Colorado.

The two goals gave Mathis a team-leading five, and his assist gave him 11 points, tied for the team lead. His play helped ignite Los Angeles’ first four-goal game since September, all this less than two weeks after being removed from the starting lineup.

“When you don’t start and you don’t play for a stretch during a game, it gets on your confidence,” said Mathis, who started 15 games as a rookie a year ago. “You kind of keep it in the back of your mind that your not good enough to be a starter.

“But I don’t look at it like that. I just look at the great players out there.”

Mathis’ frame of mind as a substitute has been a welcome sight for Coach Sigi Schmid.

“A lot of times, players competing at this level are so competitive, they don’t want to come out,” said Schmid, who is 6-3 since taking over the Galaxy earlier this season. “Clint’s been good, his attitude’s been good. And with our schedule the next two months, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to play because we have a lot of games.”

Mathis has made the most of his opportunities. Although the team struggled offensively at the beginning of the season, Mathis was the leading scorer with three goals before Hermosillo’s arrival.

Last week at Tampa Bay, Mathis entered in the 65th minute, the Galaxy trailing, 1-0. He scored a minute later.

Less than 20 minutes later, it was 4-1 Galaxy.

“I wanted to do well off the bench because I want to prove to my teammates and the coaching staff that I should be out there,” said Mathis, who had five goals and 10 assists a year ago.

He proved it to Schmid.

“He gives us more options,” Schmid said. “The thing about Clint is he can play a number of positions. He can play up front, he can play in the middle and he can play deep in the midfield.

“When a player has that kind of versatility it makes him more valuable.”

For Mathis, where Schmid believes he is most valuable is where he wants to be. But that isn’t keeping him from aiming for the starting rotation.

“I don’t hope to be a ‘Super Sub,’ ” he said. “I hope to be a starter full time. But until then, this is my job and I will excel at it.”