Tam McManus has encountered many setbacks during his football career, including three relegations and a trio of cup final defeats. But in his 11th professional season at the age of 27, he believes that things can only get better.

McManus has joined the United States' ever-expanding Major League Soccer, where Colorado Rapids are reaping the benefits of having the tenacious Scot in their side.

Tomorrow, McManus lines up against Kenny Deuchar's Real Salt Lake to determine which team will secure a place in the post-season playoffs and have a chance to compete in the MLS Cup final on November 23.

"I lost two cup finals while I was at Hibs and I was cup-tied when Dunfermline got beat by Celtic a couple of years ago, so I've not had much luck really," said McManus. "If we beat Salt Lake in our final regular-season game we will jump above them in the table and make the playoffs.

"We've struggled a bit this season, but we seem to have come into good form at the right time, so we need to make sure this continues or our season will be over. It's a really big game as we are playing against Colorado's arch-rivals and it will be great to come up against the Scottish boys in Kenny and Ian Joy, the former Montrose and Stirling Albion defender."

Throughout his career, McManus has started well at clubs, before being hampered by injuries and a loss of form. Including loan deals, he has turned out for eight clubs, but has no plans to flee America just yet. "It took me time to get adjusted to the boiling hot weather, but the lifestyle is fantastic and I am enjoying my football again so there is no reason for me to leave.

"I am staying here for at least another season after this one, then I have the option to extend my contract for another two years, so I'll just have to wait and see."

As much as McManus is enjoying the 100-degree heat and his poolside apartment, he still keeps in touch with football back home. He revealed: "I talk to a lot of the Scottish boys. In the last couple of weeks, I've had a chat with my former Hibs team-mates Ian Murray and Kenny Miller, who are still really good friends of mine."

After playing his last game for Dunfermline as a substitute against Livingston on March 1, the opportunity arose for McManus to play a couple of trial games for Colorado before he made the move a permanent one.

"We played a strong Arsenal side which included Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott in a pre-season friendly at their training centre and only lost 2-1, so I knew I was joining a team that could play."

Since moving across the Atlantic, McManus has come up against former Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel and current US international Landon Donovan, but of course it is David Beckham who takes the accolade as the most celebrated footballer in the MLS.

"LA Galaxy are in our conference, so we've played them three times this season and I came up against Beckham in the second game when they defeated us 3-2," McManus added. "I had a chat with him and he agreed to give me his shirt when we played them in the final game a couple of weeks ago, but he was on international duty so I didn't get to see him."

McManus scored a penalty in that defeat to Los Angeles and has another four goals this season in 20 appearances. One of them, a 35-yard effort against Chivas USA, is among the favourites to be named MLS Goal of the Season.

He is also in line to win Rapids' Newcomer of the Year prize, but McManus is just glad to be playing on a consistent basis again.

He said: "I've had a lot of injury problems throughout my career, but I am really glad just to be playing regularly again and the personal triumphs are just a bonus.

"Anyway, I think I'm due a bit of success, although I am looking forward to the end of the season when I can get a bit of a rest and return home for a bit."

However, he will be happy to prolong the season a little longer with victory tomorrow.