There was only one word that came to United defender’s Nick DeLeon’s mind when he stepped onto the pitch at Audi Field for the first time.
“Incredible,” the seven-year veteran said. “And to do it in a win made it that much better.”
DeLeon made his Audi Field debut when he came on in place of Yamil Asad in the 87th minute of the Black-and-Red’s 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire last Sunday. It was his first minutes since May 26 against LAFC, where he played just 26 minutes before leaving with an injury.
That injury led to surgery and a long summer of recovery for one of United’s longest-tenured players. DeLeon missed a total of 19 games, including Audi Field’s historic opening on July 14. Needless to say, the wait had made him restless.
“It was a long difficult road,” DeLeon said. “So words can’t really describe just how good it felt for me.”
DeLeon’s 11 appearances this season is the lowest of his career, and the defender noted that the injury was one of the biggest challenges he has faced. Dealing with the start-stop nature of recovery was a difficult process for DeLeon, who sat and watched from the sidelines as his teammates began a run to the playoffs.
“It was tough. It was probably the toughest injury I’ve ever had to deal with mentally,” DeLeon said. “It was a lot of ups and downs, so that’s what makes this so much sweeter because it was such a difficult road.”
His return has come at a fortunate time for United, who recently lost defender Oneil Fisher to his own knee injury for the rest of the season. Fisher himself had filled in for DeLeon at right back and put together a career year as part of a revamped United defense.
For his part, DeLeon knows the expectations have been raised for everyone in the locker room, especially as the Black-and-Red make their push for the postseason. It is a challenge he is ready to take on.
“I’m as ready as ever. I’m ready to give everything I have,” DeLeon said. “Whatever the coach asks of me i’m gonna do it. I’m ready to contribute that’s for sure.”
During his recovery process, DeLeon had a prime seat to view United’s climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to playoff contenders. Though he hated being off the field, the veteran admitted that it did give him a unique perspective to analyze the game and help him pick up where he left off.
“I think being out all that time just gave me perspective. You look at a game differently,” DeLeon said. “I could see the whole picture and really analyze the game and see where I could improve.”
All that time in the stands made him restless, though, and it has lit a fire in him that will hopefully help push the Black-and-Red into the postseason. For DeLeon, his season may have started off on the wrong foot, but he’s fully confident he and the team can finish strong.
“It was a long road but it was also a blessing and I made the best of my situation,” DeLeon said.
