On a chilly New England morning, Wells Thompson stood out as he and his New England Revolution teammates got back to work, ahead of Saturday's home opener against Toronto FC.
It wasn't that the rookie did anything necessarily spectacular in training. What caught the eye was more in what Thompson did his work. While everyone around him had at least a sweatshirt on, the Wake Forest alumnus darted around, arms exposed, in a short-sleeved training T-shirt.
Thompson smiled when he was asked whether he just didn't feel the cold, answering that he didn't really think about it. Perhaps it was down to youthful exuberance, or maybe it was the hot reception afforded him on his MLS debut last Saturday that still had him glowing three days later.
Four minutes into his first career game, Thompson watched as Logan Pause stooped to head Chicago Fire into a lead at Toyota Park that the hosts would not relinquish. A Revolution side that contained three rookies - Adam Cristman and Gary Flood also debuted - was shell-shocked by the early setback and took some time to recover.
"At that time, we were thinking 'oh my, what are we going to do' but I think that really, if we thought we would start smooth having made the changes we did, then we were probably kidding ourselves," said Revolution head coach Steve Nicol. "The guys worked it out. It took them 10-15 minutes, and after that you had to ask yourself who the home team was."
Thompson played a key role in the improved performance of the Revs, overcoming a slow start to gradually gain a foothold in the game.
"I think I struggled a little bit in the first half," said Thompson. "I wasn't being positive and going at people with the ball, which is what coach wants me to do. In the second, I settled in and came into my own, I guess."
Nicol concurred with the man on whom he used the fifth overall pick in this year's SuperDraft, adding that he too was pleased with the way Thompson's influence on the game grew.
"I think he started tentatively," said Nicol. "We want him to be more positive without being silly and I think that in the second half he did that. He was far more positive and gave them more of a problem than they gave him, which was ideal."
Thompson learned that he would get the start on the left side of midfield two days before the game and admits that he was affected by nerves initially. However, once the butterflies settled down, he was able to treat his professional debut like any other game.
"In the days leading up to the game, I was really nervous," said Thompson. "My insides were going crazy so I just tried to calm myself and not put too much pressure on myself. At the start of the game I felt real comfortable and ready to play."
Having played the full 90 minutes in Chicago, Thompson's next challenge to keep his place in the starting lineup and the 23-year-old believes the secret to doing that is simple: work hard.
"I think I am where I need to be, physically, to be playing with the guys. I just need to work hard day-in and day-out," he said. "The coach is going to make up his own mind. We have so many good players that can start without hurting our chances of winning."
Rookie seasons are, by their very nature, notable for a number of firsts, such as the first training session, the first preseason game, the first run-in with a gnarled veteran. Having seen live game action, Thompson has already achieved probably the most notable first for any freshman player. Though it might have been marked by defeat, his debut, he feels, has settled him into fledgling career even further.
"It's still kind of unbelievable that I am here, where I am, but it helped me to feel more part of the team and being in the league made it feel more real," Thompson said. "I think it helps, the sooner you get a game and get time in, to adjust. It (stunk) that we lost but it was good to get a game under my belt."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
