Kelyn Rowe nearly ready for return from knee injury

Kelyn Rowe missed two months of action last season while recovering from a knee sprain. So when the midfielder picked up a knee injury in training two weeks ago, many fans feared the worst.

But this time, Rowe sustained an injury to his left knee—not the right knee he injured eight months ago. The ensuing MRI showed only minor structural damage. And now, Rowe is already on the verge of making a return.

“[Kelyn’s] progressing really well,” Revolution Head Coach Brad Friedel said on Tuesday. “He’s doing a pretty hard dose of fitness today and we’ll see what the reaction is. Hopefully, there’s no swelling afterwards, but he’s miles ahead of the injury he had last year at this point in time.”

Rowe appeared as a substitute in the Revolution’s 4-0 win over the Impact on April 6 and picked up a knock during training on April 13, one day before New England’s 1-0 loss to FC Dallas. The UCLA product then missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Crew SC.

But according to Friedel, Rowe could return as soon as this weekend.

“It really will just be touch and go for this weekend,” Friedel said. “And if not this weekend then hopefully the following weekend, but he’s not too long now.”

After starting an average of 23 matches during his first seven MLS seasons, Rowe started just two of five matches prior to his injury. Up to this point, Friedel has preferred to use the versatile attacker as a second-half substitute, though it remains to be seen if the gaffer will continue to deploy Rowe in that role.

On New England’s current roster, only Lee Nguyen has collected more career assists (49) than Rowe (40).

The Revs will kick off against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.