Rowe “like a kid at Disneyland” after returning to training

The last time Kelyn Rowe suited up for the Revolution, he had his sights set on a late-season playoff run. That vision has passed. Now he just wants to play soccer again.

After missing the past seven weeks of action while nursing a knee sprain, Rowe returned to training this week.

“I was buzzing around like it was no one's business,” he said. “I was a kid at Disneyland [or on] Christmas morning.”

He continued, “I woke up and I was here 30 minutes earlier than I needed to be, because I was like, 'Guys, I get to play today.’ I get to play the real soccer ball with my soccer friends. It was good.”

This childish excitement arose from a player who has finally emerged from a difficult stretch of his career. Over the past several weeks, Rowe watched the Revolution drop matches with playoff implications. He couldn’t do anything about it; he needed to rehab his knee. And that presented its share challenges.

"It's hard sitting out a long period of time. Because it was my knee, I couldn't really do much, so I lost a little bit of fitness,” he said. “I can't sit on the bench any longer or just sit in the stands, because it's hard for me as a player.”

Rowe credits head trainer Evan Allen and assistant trainer Phil Madore for helping him grind through the most difficult days of his recovery. Now, he’s optimistic that he could return before season’s end.

“We don’t want to push it too much, but me, mentally, I want to go as fast as I can. Hopefully, I get on the field before the season ends,” Rowe concluded.

If he does make an appearance at Gillette Stadium this weekend, when the Revolution host New York City FC, he plans to give the fans something to cheer about.

“Even through the rough times that we've had this year and previous years, [our fans] have been great about coming out and supporting in every way they can,” Rowe said. “We want to give them the best sendoff we can."