Simon Dawkinsā return to the Bay Area didnāt exactly get off to the start he wanted.
Dawkins, who played the 2011 and 2012 seasons with San Jose and returned to the club this winter after three years in England, failed to get on the scoresheet in the Quakesā opening three games and got sent off in the first half of the third, a 3-1 loss at LA on March 19.
It wasnāt the picture-perfect return the Designated Player imagined, but, as he told The Telegraphās Bob Williams in a story published on Wednesday, itās all a part of getting reacquainted with San Jose after spending the first half of the current European season languishing on the bench for Derby.
"Personally, I think there is still a lot more to come from me,ā he said. āIām still getting back into the groove. I missed a lot of playing time at Derby and I am still getting back into it. The aim is to get better each game.
"It was very frustrating at Derby. My first two seasons I was a regular so I was confused as to why I wasnāt playing but thatās life and you move on.ā
After sitting out San Joseās April 2 draw against D.C. due to the red card suspension, he seemed to get his feet under him a bit over the weekend, when he recorded an assist in San Joseās 2-2 draw at FC Dallas. Heāll look to carry that solid play into Wednesday, when the Quakes host the New York Red Bulls, who are off to a rough start after winning the Supportersā Shield last year, at Avaya Stadium (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
āI think [it might be the right time to play them],ā he said. āBut then and again they need a win so they could turn up [Wednesday] night and deliver for the first time. It depends what Red Bulls turn up."