Former Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy defender Leonard Griffin is grateful for the chance given to him by USSF Division 2 club Austin Aztex.

The 27-year old struggled with a hernia last season, hardly featuring for the Galaxy but this year signed a three-year deal with the Aztex who threw him a lifeline in a worrying point in his career.

Griffin said last season could have helped develop him further as a footballer but things didn't turn out the way he had planned and now he is concentrating on finding form and fitness at a new club.

"I thought it would be a test, but a chance to move up the ladder but the (starters) were in there doing their jobs," Griffin said of his time with the Galaxy.

"It makes you feel like you're contributing," he added. "(Playing) week in, week out, you're rewarded for the work you put in during training."

Griffin's head coach, former Everton midfielder Adrian Heath, said that his player was coming along well and was looking for him to improve rapidly as he experienced more game time.

"The Galaxy people never thought he let them down when he did play in the league," Heath said. "So we know he can play at that level.

"With a regular run of games (he can improve to) a level he's really comfortable within himself. We have to keep working him to get him at a state where he's probably another 10, 15 percent sharper."