FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse had somewhat of a break-out year in 2009.

The 25-year old shot-stopper stepped into the role when Dallas number one Dario Sala went down with a knee injury early in the season and made the position his own in 17 appearances.

When Sala returned to fitness, he was relegated back to the bench but impressed during his tenure as the club's first choice stopper.

"I think for the season a whole, team-wise, we did very well toward the end of the season," he said. "That gives us a tremendous amount of confidence heading into the 2010 season. Personally, I think had a pretty good year. I played in the most games I've ever played in.

"I think I developed some confidence in myself by playing in MLS. Team-wise and personally, I think it was a pretty good year," he continued. "However, personally, I would like to play more. In the second part of the season, I didn't really play at all. That's something I hopefully want to change going into next season."

Burse admitted that it was tough for a goalkeeper to keep up appearances in MLS because of no reserve league and said something should be changed to help develop the more inexperienced players.

"I think it's very difficult for a goalkeeper. I think after I stopped playing in late July or early August, I didn't play another competitive game the rest of the season," he said. "That's almost five months right now without a game. I think it's too long. If you want to develop young players, they need games. Especially goalkeepers, they need games in order to improve. It's difficult."

FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said that he was happy with how Burse came along during the season when he was filling in for Sala, exciting him about his future.

"Ray did a good job for us this year being thrown into the fire because Dario got hurt so early and then carrying us for a while. I saw continuing growth in Ray as he went through that process," Hyndman said.