CARSON, Calif. – As he looked over the team sheet ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni saw a surprising, but yet familiar name included in the starting lineup.

The former U.S. midfielder was in the Galaxy’s game day squad the last time Jack McBean appeared in Major League Soccer, a 1-0 win against the Montreal Impact on October 16, 2013. After it was announced earlier on Wednesday that the USL’s leading scorer this season had been re-signed to the Galaxy’s MLS squad, Mastroeni was pleased to see him return, and impressed with the growth in his game.

“It was great to see him,” Mastroeni said. “I was shocked when I saw him on the team sheet. He handled himself really well tonight. I thought his hold-up play was good, he was energetic, he was really mobile and so I think he’s improved quite a bit as a player. It was great to see that he gets rewarded with the opportunity.”

McBean had scored 12 goals in 14 appearances for the Galaxy II this season, after recording 11 goals and 11 assists during Los Dos’ first two seasons in the USL. Named the team’s captain in preseason, he joined fellow former Galaxy II players Daniel Steres and Dave Romney in the starting lineup against the Rapids, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw at StubHub Center.

Making what could be called a second debut for the side, the 21-year-old said his time with Los Dos had helped his game mature, and his confidence grow as a result.

”I think I’ve matured,” McBean said. “I’ve been scoring goals with Los Dos and I think that competition has really helped my game develop.”

With a number of Galaxy players absent due to injury or international competitions, Coach Bruce Arena was pleased with what he saw from McBean as he went up against one of the better, and more physical defenses in MLS this season.

“He did good job and made a bunch of good plays on both sides of the ball,” Arena said. “We [thought] of taking him out actually, but he continued to play well so we kept him in there. I think he did a real good job, he held the ball up, drew some fouls, helped create a few chances and for his first game with us this year I thought he did very good.”

The work ethic that has been on display in the USL was definitely something that carried over on Wednesday night. McBean drew a game-high four fouls as he worked to get into good positions against Colorado’s Axel Sjoberg and Jared Watts.

“I thought he worked his socks off,” said Steven Gerrard. “He’s a very honest striker and puts himself about. Unfortunately he never got many clear chances, but he’s been doing exceptionally well with the [Galaxy II] and he deserved his chance tonight.”

After his almost three-year absence from MLS action, McBean appears ready to push on for more.

”It’s weird,” McBean said. “It’s been three years or almost three years, so to be back is good. I feel like I fit in a lot better this time than before, and hopefully things only go up from here.”