Signings, rumours, cross-country trips, wins and losses have come in a flurry since Toronto FC kicked off its pre-season training not three weeks ago.
But despite all the excitement, it still felt as though something was missing in the Reds camp.
The final piece to the puzzle arrived late last week, when captain Michael Bradley and striker Jozy Altidore, returned to TFC from international duty.
While neither is back in full training — Bradley’s trying to shake an illness and Altidore an inflamed fat pad in his knee — with their re-emergence comes a new feeling around the training ground, as if preparations are now in earnest.