FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England goalkeeper Matt Reis sacrificed a potential appearance in the Revolution's 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas on March 30 to treat his troublesome left knee.
The gambit paid off this week. Reis returned to the training field to stake his claim for a place in the starting XI for Saturday's trip to Seattle (4 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
“That was our thinking going into it: the bye week and skipping the game against FC Dallas would improve the chances of it getting better, and it has,” Reis told MLSsoccer.com.
Reis' injury remains a rather difficult problem to manage and peg. The most recent concerns stemmed from swelling caused by the dissolution of scar tissue in his knee, but the 38-year-old's underlying complaints derive from lingering issues accrued over the past decade.
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Although the chronic problems cause Reis pain, they do not imperil the structure of his knee, according to the Revolution medical staff. At this stage, it is a matter of managing the symptoms.
“There are a few different things that are going on in there,” Reis said. “I've had it for decades. It's not something new, it's something that I've dealt with for the last 10 years. It just flares up at times. Now is a time when it flares up.”
The protracted period of rest over the past two weeks allowed Reis to quell the swelling for the moment. The pain is still there and he is currently listed as questionable on the club's latest injury report, but Reis said he continues to make strides as he bids to reclaim his usual place in the lineup this weekend.
“It's getting better,” Reis said. “It's not great, but it is getting better. I have been able to start practicing again, which is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, with some more treatment and everything, I'll be able to get it where it is pain-free.”
