It’s been noted plenty that D.C. United has opened the regular season with key absences from the attacking side of the ball. But that focus has overshadowed the return for one player who completed a long road back from the wilderness of long-term injury in the Black-and-Red’s shutout defeat of Montreal on March 7.
When forward Conor Doyle entered off the bench in the 66th minute of the 1-0 victory over the Impact, it marked the end of seven-month trek back to action following right knee meniscus surgery in early August. It was an eventful spell, too, as Doyle nearly scored, took a ball to the face, and ensured through his dogged work that United secured three points.
“It was special,” Doyle said. “For any time you’re out, it’s tough. But it being for six months and having to go through the whole offseason… being able to get back out there for an MLS game was a big deal, and it was quite a bit of minutes. I was able to try and do something to help the team so it was good.”
A swollen cheek and a few cuts in his mouth were a small price to pay, and the 22-year-old was unlucky not to double his team’s lead late in the game when he forced a save from Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush from a tight angle on the end line.
Doyle made 17 appearances in 2014 before his season-ending injury, and he could only watch while United surged to the top of the Eastern Conference and the most points in team history. When the season ended abruptly, it brought on a lonely offseason of countless hours in the gym.
“I couldn’t walk for eight weeks,” said Doyle. “It’s such a good group of guys, and they still make you feel included, but once the season ended, I was still here.”
It was a sea of empty lockers as Doyle eclipsed the milestones on the road to recovery.
“My parents, I could call them and tell them, and let my friends know from back home,” Doyle said. “But other than that, it was me and [Assistant Athletic Trainer] Kyle [Sherry]… Kyle was here throughout the whole thing so we had a lot of me-and-him time.”
Doyle’s dedication put Sherry to the test as well to keep coming up with challenging new and different workouts.
“It’s always tough for an athlete like that to see the light at the end of the tunnel and remember what he’s working for,” Sherry said. “He was usually the first one in here and the last one to leave so he definitely put in his work.”
With Fabián Espíndola suspended and Luis Silva still working his own way back, Doyle has an opportunity to make his return stick. There’s no better chance than a visit to the rival New York Red Bulls fully healthy, and with the added incentive of revenge for last year’s playoff defeat.
“Everything put together,” Doyle said, “it’s going to be a fun trip up to New York.”
