Milo has his eye on Nyarko

Patrick Nyarko has never played for Ghana's national team, but he is on the coach's radar. Milovan Rajevac attended Saturday's Fire-Columbus Crew game to get a closer look at the 23-year-old Fire forward.

"This was his first opportunity to see Patrick," said Fire technical director Frank Klopas. "He wants to bring him in for friendlies to take a closer look. When that will be? I don't know.

"Obviously Patrick is very excited. The good thing about him is that he's a level-headed kid."

Nyarko has started all six of the Fire's games this season and has a goal and two assists.

The Ghana coach was also supposed to watch New York Red Bulls forward Dominic Oduro on Sunday but canceled the trip because he wasn't sure Oduro would start against D.C. United.

Ghana is in the same qualifying group as Mali, which features Fire defender Bakary Soumare. The Black Stars advanced to the 2010 World Cup round of 16