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New England Revolution

With Jones on Verge of Return, Revs Say He's "Coming Back at the Right Time "

July 28, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Jermaine Jones took a massive step in his recovery this past weekend by traveling with the New England Revolution and making the game-day roster for the Revolution's 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire. The next step, of course, will be actually taking the field.

That could happen this Saturday night when the Revs host fellow Eastern Conference playoff contender Toronto FC, but it depends on what kind of progress Jones makes throughout the course of the week.

"It's all about where he is day-by-day," said head coach Jay Heaps. "We're not in the week-by-week process now - we're watching and assessing after every day. Can he add a little bit more? What's his fitness level look like? Where's the recovery process?"

The answers to those questions were sufficient enough last week for Jones to make the trip to Toyota Park, where he suited up for the first time since a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy on May 31. In mid-June Jones underwent bilateral sports hernia surgery and was sidelined for eight games.

While Heaps said that Jones was an option off the bench in Chicago, any appearance would've been very brief. There's hope that won't be the case by the time Saturday night rolls around.

"Last week we made a really good step forward and we want to continue that," Heaps said. "With him being on the bench, the minutes were going to be extremely limited. Now (the question is) can we get more out of him in training so that it's not nearly as limited come this Saturday?"

Jones' mere presence in Chicago was a boost as the Revs snapped a six-game road losing streak and made it four points from two games following a win over New York City FC the previous weekend.

That effect will take on another dimension when Jones returns to the field, which teammate Charlie Davies believes will be on Saturday night against TFC.

"You definitely feel his presence when he's on the field," Davies said. "There's definitely a boost in the locker room. I think he'll be coming back at the right time, just like last year.

"His debut (upon signing in August 2014) was against Toronto and I think this Saturday he'll, again, make another debut for us after his surgery. So we're pumped. We know he'll make a big difference for us."

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