Rolfe addition nice, but Fire better not stop there

The Chicago Fire has shown so far this season that its attack could use more punch.

Monday's long-rumored move to reacquire forward/midfielder Chris Rolfe is a step in the right direction, but it can't be the last step if the Fire wants to contend for MLS Cup this season.

When Rolfe left the Fire (1-1-2, 5 points) for Aalborg in Denmark in 2009, he had basically switched to right midfielder from forward. Where coach Frank Klopas plays him upon his return and whether he can crack the starting XI is anybody's guess, but at least Rolfe can put away the Rosetta Stone language lessons.

“We are excited to have Chris rejoin the Chicago Fire,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said in a team statement. “Chris is a proven goal scorer with experience in MLS and abroad. Chris will help us as we push for the MLS Cup playoffs and we are happy to welcome him back to the club.”

In 32 matches overseas Rolfe, 29, scored 6 goals. Before that he had 40 goals and 20 assists in 149 matches in five season with the Fire. Those are respectable figures, but they don't indicate dominance. They indicate the Fire has added good depth.

Rolfe — who was scheduled to fly into Chicago on Monday and expected to be available for selection for Saturday's game at Toronto FC (2:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network) — is one of the good guys. He'll fit in well in the locker room and on the practice field. He'll take his defensive responsibilities seriously, as Klopas demands, wherever he plays.

Think Patrick Nyarko with less speed but a better nose for the goal.

But what the Fire really needs is someone who will be among the league leaders in goals scored; someone who can find the net 12-15 times a season, and someone who will complement speedster Dominic Oduro and take some pressure off him.

That player is out there, and the Fire will keep looking, but more help won't be coming soon. Monday was the last day MLS clubs could acquire international players until the July transfer window.

The Fire can't count on Oduro to score every goal, and it can't count on ricochets off Logan Pause's back every game.

Until the Fire finds a poacher, someone who can score in close quarters, someone for whom shooting is truly a skill, it will try to win a lot of 1-0 games. That might be good enough to end a two-year playoff drought, but it won't win the MLS Cup.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @orrinsoccer.