After undergoing surgery on a sports hernia in Germany last week, FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty hasn't yet been cleared to return to work. But McCarty is itching to get back to action.
"I want to start jogging again," he said. "I feel good. I'm hoping to be back in training as a neutral maybe next week. I'm feeling good and hopefully, we can get in the training room, sort it out and I can get back out there."
McCarty has played in six games for FCD this year, four of those starts and has one assist. Last year, he led the Hoops in assists with seven despite missing time playing for the U.S. national team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.
This is the second time the third-year Generation adidas player has gone to Europe for surgery on a sports hernia. Before the 2007 season, McCarty went for a procedure on his right side; his latest surgery was for the similar ailment on his left.
"When I went over there the first time, they looked at both sides and told me that if I didn't get a sufficient break that there was a chance that it would happen on my left side," he said. "With all the U-23 stuff, I have been playing pretty much nonstop for the last year and a half. It definitely was a little bit tough to go back over there. The travel is brutal because it takes a toll on your body and wears you out a little bit. It's a little unfortunate but if this is the worst injury I have in my career, then that's not too bad."
One big difference between his rehab then compared to now is that besides his duties with FCD, McCarty also has making the U.S. Olympic team to consider.
"I think there is a little bit of a difference this time around," he said. "There is a little bit more urgency on my part to get back into the weight room and training room as quickly as possible. I feel good. It's only been days after my surgery and I already feel that I can start running again. While I do want to get back on the field as soon as possible, I want to be prudent about it and make sure that I look at the whole season because this is a long season with a lot of competitions. I feel really good right now and hope to get back as soon as possible."
For now, McCarty is focused on getting healthy so that he can return to help FCD.
"The Olympics are a little bit on my mind but my first priority is FC Dallas and helping this team win," he said. "That's why I talked to (former head coach) Steve (Morrow) and we agreed that it would be best for me to have this surgery as soon as possible. Unfortunately, in our league, it's safe to say that how you finish is more important than how you start. We're just trying to get into the playoffs and want to make a run. I want to be at 100 percent for that run.
"I'm not on the Olympic team yet but hopefully, I can get healthy and have a good two months of playing under my belt, get in a few good games with Dallas and prove my fitness to the coaches," McCarty continued. "That's something I really want to be part of because it's a once in a lifetime experience. It definitely played a little part in having this surgery."
He has played just 21 minutes so far in May, coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute of a 0-0 draw at San Jose on May 3, making it tough for McCarty to watch his side as they struggle through a winless streak that has now reached three matches.
"It's tough and is frustrating as a player," he said. "But unfortunately, injuries are part of our profession and what we do. For me, it's tough seeing the guys out there and not getting the results that we want."
But McCarty doesn't think there is anything major wrong with FCD that can't be quickly corrected.
"I think it's a matter of correcting a couple of little things," he said. "You could see at the start of the year that we were doing well and we need to get back that fire and desire to get results that we had at the beginning of the year. I think that we have that but it's just a matter of correcting a few things. Hopefully, I'll be involved in that during the next few weeks."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
