Colorado Rapids midfielder Anthony Wallace has endured a tough time of it during this MLS off-season.

The 21-year old joined the Rapids from FC Dallas in July 2010 before winning the MLS Cup with his new club over the Texan outfit.

Then in the Expansion Draft on November 24, incoming franchise Portland Timbers selected Wallace, which is a move that startled the US youth representative.

"At the time, I was running on about three hours of sleep. I was at a friend's house at eight in the morning, and I started getting text messages saying congratulations on the move to Portland. I'm thinking 'Oh man, I have to start all over again'," he told ussoccer.com.

But Colorado decided to trade for Wallace, sending allocation money to Portland, and getting their man back although by that stage it was slightly lost on the player himself.

"Of course a few hours later, to my relief, I had a talk with the GM of Colorado and he told me they traded back for me. At that point, I was so tired it barely hit me," he added.