Boskovic practices for first time with D.C.

It is too early to talk about a resurgence, given D.C. United (3-9-2, 11 points) remains tied for last place in the Eastern Conference and tied for the fewest points in Major League Soccer.

But with only one loss since mid-May, D.C. does have momentum and will face difficult lineup decisions when the team's newest designated player, Branko Boskovic, is fit and ready to put on a United uniform for the first time.

The 30-year-old Montenegrin playmaker, who trained for the first time with D.C. on Wednesday, could force an established starter like Chris Pontius out of his position on the left wing or send a central midfielder -- either Stephen King or Clyde Simms -- onto the bench. At least, after he gets adjusted to the American summer heat.

"It's a little bit different in my country," Boskovic said. "It's about 10 degrees [less]." That's Celsius, too, meaning more like 20 degrees less than the triple-digits in Washington.

Another choice for D.C. United coach Curt Onalfo could be to readjust his formation from a four-midfielder set to five across the middle with Boskovic as the playmaker.

"There's always that balance of having a system and player dictating systems," Onalfo said. "For us, we have a real clear way that we're playing right now and we're successful with it, so we're not going to change that."

cstouffer@washingtonexaminer.com