FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Ever since declaring in mid-April that he has hopes of donning a USMNT jersey “one more time,” New England Revolution forward Charlie Davies has been tearing up it in MLS.
The 28-year-old striker has scored in all three of the Revs’ matches since making that proclamation, bagging one goal each in wins against the Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls.
“It’s always great to get in a groove as a striker,” Davies said of his current form. “I still feel I haven’t even scratched the surface yet of playing at my very best. That’s always a positive, especially early on in the season. It’s all about improvement and hard work.
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“I have great teammates and we continue to gel on the field, that’s the best part about it. We’re having so much fun while we’re playing well. We've just got to continue to work hard, continue to improve game after game.”
It’s the finest run of form Davies has experienced since the 2009 car accident that nearly took his life and put his playing career on the shelf, and it all starts with his fitness. After playing more than 80 minutes just seven times in 2014, Davies and the New England training staff have worked to help the ex-USMNT forward return to competing at a top-level for 90 minutes.
He’s played in eight of the club’s nine matches this year, starting five of New England’s last six games and going at least 80 minutes four times. The only start in which Davies has played fewer than 80 minutes came in the Revs’ 4-0 win against Real Salt Lake, when the striker came off in the 62nd after New England had already built a 3-0 advantage.
“It’s extremely important to be physically ready for the matches,” Davies said. “I think now, at this stage, it’s been almost six years since my car accident. Now my body finally feels like I can play 90 minutes week-in and week-out and be fully 100 percent for the next match. All the credit should definitely got to [strength and conditioning coach Nick Downing], as well as the training staff here.”
Davies getting back to near top form has opened things up in a big way for the Revolution offense, who lacked many options outside of 18-goal scorer Lee Nguyen last season.
With three goals, Davies has already matched his season goal total from a year ago and his pressure up top has provided more space underneath for the likes of Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury and Kelyn Rowe. The more dynamic offense – New England’s 12 goals, all scored in the team’s last six games, are tied for third-most in the league – has the Revs in prime position in the East, and might just have Davies back in the USMNT picture.
“When he’s scoring goals he becomes more dangerous which creates more space for the players underneath,” said Revs head coach Jay Heaps. “Charlie is a player for us that continues to get better every week and I love seeing that. It’s great seeing a player buy into what we’re doing and continue to get better every week.”
Craig Forde covers the New England Revolution for MLSsoccer.com.
