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Columbus Crew exercise options on Higuain, Meram, Trapp

Reuters

The Columbus Crew announced Monday the club has exercised its options for a trio of key midfielders, with Designated Player Federico Higuain, winger Justin Meram, and enforcer Wil Trapp retained for at least the 2017 season.

"We are glad to have Federico, Justin, and Wil back for 2017 as they have been important pieces of our club in their time here," Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a club statement.

"Each of them continues to play a key role in our system and we look forward to their continued contributions on and off the field next season."

The decision to retain the three key starters comes after a dogged 2016 campaign saw the Crew crash out of playoff contention well in advance of the final match, becoming one-half of the first pair of MLS Cup finalists not to secure post-season berths in the following year.

Higuain, 32, was not guaranteed to return to the team, doubly so after posting a personal low four goals and three assists in 20 appearances. He was ruled out at the end of the 2016 season after undergoing hernia surgery, but Berhalter has extended a chance at redemption for the Argentine attacker.

There will be plenty of optimism regarding the return of Trapp and Meram, however, as the former has evolved into a semi-regular option in the U.S. men's national team while the latter is a regular for Iraq.

Together, all three account for a combined 370 matches played, 64 goals, and 70 assists, with Meram the longest tenured player at the club since joining in 2011.

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