Pat Noonan hopes that FC Cincinnati will prove their competitiveness once more as players continue to return, with a trip to Nashville SC up next in MLS.

Cincinnati have won just two of their league matches this season, but have lost both of their games away from home.

They sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, having lost one and drawn one of their last two outings, but Noonan is convinced they can show a threat on Saturday.

Cincinnati are boosted by the returns of Kevin Denkey and Stefan Chirila from international duty, as well as Gilberto Flores from suspension and Miles Robinson after illness.

"We're always kind of one piece missing from week to week, but that's part of it. We need to be competitive," Noonan said.

"The key for me is going day to day, week to week, with more consistency within the group.

We always knew post the eight games that we had in that 24-25-day period, then with the international break, it wasn't going to be this way until now, and so hopefully, we can stay healthy and continue to work in a good way with the same guys."

Nashville, meanwhile, have made their best start to an MLS season after five games, losing just one of their outings so far (W3 D1) and sit fourth in the table.

They have won their last three matches on the bounce, but head coach BJ Callaghan remains wary of the threat that Cincinnati pose, despite their record this season.

"It's a Cincinnati team that always plays with a good intensity and energy," he said.

"They're well coached, and the players have been playing together for a while. It's an ambitious club that's made really good additions as they continually try to improve.

"We're expecting an exciting match. They present challenges on the field that we have to be ready for."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Cincinnati are one of three teams Hany Mukhtar has faced in the regular season but never scored against.

Mukhtar has registered eight assists against Cincinnati, as only Cristian Espinoza versus Los Angeles FC (12) has more against a single club since the midfielder joined MLS in 2020.

FC Cincinnati – Evander

Evander scored both goals in Cincinnati's draw with Atlanta United on Saturday.

It was his 11th regular-season match with multiple goal contributions since the start of last season, tied for the second most in MLS in that time behind only Lionel Messi (12).

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE SC WIN

With 10 points (W3 D1 L1), Nashville are off to the best five-match start in club history. They won their last three matches – it is their first three-match winning streak in regular-season play since May-June 2023 (four straight).

Cincinnati have lost only one of their four all-time visits to Nashville (W1 D2), with that defeat coming in July 2021. Cincinnati have recorded a win and a draw in their last two matches at Nashville.

However, after a seven-match road winning streak in league play last April-June, Cincinnati have won only two of their last eight road league games (D1 L5), including losing two in a row on the road to start this season with defeats at Philadelphia Union and Charlotte FC.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 40.3%

Draw – 26.6%

FC Cincinnati – 33%