Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson likes the look of new striker Atiba Harris.

The 26-year old joins the MLS expansion franchise after being left unprotected by FC Dallas back in the expansion draft and Thordarson is looking for him to do plenty of the grunt work up forward in the 2011 season.

"He's physically strong. He's a big lad that's willing to work. That's something that pleases me," he told cbc.ca.

"He has a lot of good qualities to be a striker and become a very good striker. We have to work hard to fix little things. There are a lot of things about him that I like."

The 25-year old St Kitts & Nevis native, who is the cousin of Manchester City's Micah Richards, said he was delighted to be given the chance by the 'Caps after 2010 runners-up Dallas had to leave him off their list.

"The coach told us he had a difficult decision," Harris said. "He had a whole bunch of good players on that team.

"Some players were bound to be left unprotected. It was disappointing. At the same time I was happy coach Teitur and the staff didn't trade me away. They kept me.

"Coming here was a bit bittersweet. It's exciting at the same time.

"It's a new challenge, a new beginning. A different environment.

"There are a bunch of new cultures up here. I'm pretty excited."