CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – New England Revolution fans waited 87 days for the start of 2016 preseason camp, currently ongoing in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Darrius Barnes waited a lot longer.
The 29-year-old defender missed the majority of the 2015 campaign after a lingering knee injury required surgery last April, forcing Barnes into an extensive six-month rehabilitation process.
Tack on a three-month offseason and it’s easy to understand why Barnes was so anxious to get back onto the field alongside his teammates, now preparing for his eighth season with the Revolution.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Barnes said on Wednesday morning as the Revs began their first full day in the desert sun.