Former Rangers winger Ryan Kent breaks out in 3rd Seattle Sounders outing | OneFootball

After enduring a nearly nine-month absence from playing competitive games, Ryan Kent has been eased into action for the Seattle Sounders gradually.

But the former Glasgow Rangers winger is already showing the potential to be an impact player at his new club in the Pacific Northwest.

Kent played the final 33 minutes of Seattle's 4-1 home win over St. Louis City SC on Saturday night, and almost immediately upon the Englishman's entrance, the Sounders found another level.

The 28-year-old picked up his first MLS assist only four minutes after stepping onto the pitch on some lovely combination play with Obed Vargas, then provided his second in second-half stoppage time as Nouhou completed the scoring.

And even if he hadn't directly contributed to a goal, it was clear the match shifted more dramatically in Seattle's direction once Kent came on the field. The data backs that assertion, with Seattle creating 2.4 of their 3.2 of their non-penalty expected goals with Kent on the field.

How Kent landed in Seattle ...

Kent was in his third -- and longest -- Sounders apearance. He made his debut on April 19. almost exactly nine months after his final appearance at Fenerbahce in the second round of UEFA Champions League qualifying.

After his contract was terminated by mutual consent in the fall, the Sounders signed him earlier this spring in part to make up for the void left by Paul Arriola's season-ending ACL tear.