Daryl Dike is thrilled to be back at Orlando City following his return to the club as a free agent.Dike has re-joined Orlando after he left West Brom as a free agent.The 26-year-old left Orlando for England in 2021, having had a superb stint on loan at Barnsley.After scoring 11 goals in 19 games for Orlando, Dike joined West Brom, but had an injury-hit five years at The Hawthorns. He has made just 22 starts in the Championship for the Baggies, playing 64 times in the competition in total and netting 10 goals.Now, Dike is relishing getting back into MLS action.Ahead of Orlando travelling to face the San Jose Earthquakes, he told OrlandoCitySC.com: "I'm super happy to be here."It's where it all started. It's where they first gave me the chance to play, and I'm happy to be back."It felt like home when I was here, and coming back, it still feels like home. Driving around here, it still feels like home. So, I'm happy to be home."The first bit of my career was just a whirlwind. I think coming in, getting drafted, you're always very confident in yourself, but you realise how big of a challenge it's going to be, and luckily because of the people around me, because of the opportunities I was given, I was I was able to hit a groove."Everything just kind of moved really quickly. Football in the span of a year and a half, two years, everything was just quick, quick, and lots of change. But I really did enjoy it."Reflecting on his injury struggles, Dike said: "When I kept getting injuries, it's very easy to think negatively. Very easy to think, 'Am I always going to be like this? Why me?'"But turning back to my family, thinking it's only a step, and it'll pass. I think I'm so fortunate to have tons of people who support me, fans, friends, everyone around who support me, and I think that's something that helps encourage you to go and be the best, and to make sure that you get better, not only for yourself, but for the people who believe in you. I'm thankful for everybody who has believed in me throughout that tough experience."And even then, as I've been growing, I owe it to a lot of them. I owe it to my family. I owe it to my friends, my fans, because if I was trying to be successful on my own, I really wouldn't be."Dike will be hoping to feature against San Jose, though Antoine Griezmann could certainly be in line to make his MLS debut, following his move to Orlando during the World Cup break.We are so back— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 21, 2026PLAYERS TO WATCHSan Jose Earthquakes – Preston JuddSan Jose have not played since May, when they beat the Portland Timbers 3-1.Judd scored twice in that game, taking his tally for the season to 11 goals in MLS. Five of those have been scored in the first 13 minutes of a game.That is the most such goals scored in a single season by an Earthquakes player, besting the four by Chris Wondolowski in 2011 and Jeremy Ebobisse in 2023.Orlando City – Martin OjedaOjeda scored both of Orlando's goals in their last match entering the break, bringing his goal total for the season to 11.That accounts for 47.8% of Orlando's total goals in MLS play this season, with only Hugo Cuypers (48.1%) having a higher percentage of his team’s goals in 2026.MATCH PREDICTION: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES WINOrlando were hammered 6-2 by FC Cincinnati in their last outing, and Opta's model predicts a San Jose win here.Dating back to the last match of last season, Orlando have conceded 35 goals in its last nine regular-season away matches, allowing five goals twice and six goals twice. No team has conceded more goals in a span of nine away matches in MLS history.San Jose's win over Portland, meanwhile, ended a five-match winless run. The Earthquakes had shipped just two goals in their first eight matches in all competitions this season but have not kept a clean sheet in the nine matches since (16 goals allowed).However, Orlando have lost only one of seven all-time meetings with San Jose (W3 D3), a 3-0 road defeat in August 2019. Orlando have won the last two meetings between the sides by a combined score of 6-0.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYSan Jose Earthquakes – 51.1%Orlando City – 24.1%Draw – 24.8%The post Orlando striker Dike thrilled to be back ‘where it all started’ appeared first on SoccerNews.