New England Revolution midfielder Wells Thompson stood on the Gillette Stadium practice fields earlier this week, tilted his heel and pointed to the little round hole in his cleat.
The heel of Thompson's boot has a gap the size of a quarter. A friend who practices orthotics performed minor shoe surgery to relieve pressure on Thompson's heel.
Thompson has missed the first four games of the season with that heel injury, but a comeback looms in the near future. Thompson made the substitutes' bench last weekend and has trained this week.
"We've got a lot of games left this season," Thompson said. "I'm just trying to remind myself of that."
The injury flared up during preseason, ruling him out of most of the team's activities and placing him in a walking boot for two weeks. Thompson said he was frustrated by his inability to shake off the injury.
"Consistency is one of the biggest things for any player," Thompson said. "That's what's been so frustrating about it. I just want to get back to playing day-in, day-out and practicing with the guys."
Spending time on the sidelines has taken a chunk of Thompson's ability to run up and down the flank.
"I'm not sure my fitness is at 100 percent yet," Thompson said. "It's surprising how easily you lose it."
Thompson also faces pressure from his replacement, Sainey Nyassi. The Gambian under-20 international has scored twice this season and has tested defenses consistency with his willingness to run at defenders.
Nyassi's play will pose a serious decision for Revs head coach Steve Nicol when Thompson returns from injury. The former Wake Forest player knows he'll have a fight on his hands to regain his place in the lineup.
"Sainey's a good player," Thompson said. "I know he's good because he used to play against me when he was with the second team. I'm not going to back down from the challenge, but ultimately, it's the coach's decision."
That willingness to fight for his place arises from Thompson's success last season. After earning a starting berth in the last three games of the season and carrying that momentum into the playoffs, Thompson believes he can make a significant impact for the Revs.
"Confidence is a huge thing for me," Thompson said. "I know what to expect now and I know that I can compete and can do well on this level."
But to make that impact, Thompson will have to regain his place and shake off the niggling heel injury that has plagued his campaign. In Thompson's mind, the path leading to a return requires a philosophical approach to the situation.
"I've been fortunate with injuries so far, but you have to deal with it," Thompson said. "It comes with the profession."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
