Commerce City, Colo. - Midfielder Jamie Smith watched much of the team's first training session of 2012 from the sidelines Monday. Smith is still recovering from a torn ACL in his right which occured in the club's playoff victory over Columbus on October 27, 2011.
"The knee is feeling really good at the minute," Smith told ColoradoRapids.com. "It's feeling really strong. The next stage is to get me on the field jogging."
Smith was injured on a non-contact play in the 72' of the playoff match with the Rapids leading 1-0 and was taken off on a stretcher. At the time, it was expected he could miss an estimated six months. However he feels he is ahead of schedule and is hopeful to begin training in early March.
Last year, Smith scored an MLS career-high three goals in the regular season and added four assists. And he's eager to get back on the field for his fourth season with the Rapids.
"I'm excited for the start of the season and I'm not even going to be ready for the start of the season," Smith said. "So I'm pretty sure most of the guys are really looking forward to it. Preseason is always tough, always seems like it's never going to end. But the guys will very quickly be fully fit and be ready to go for the first game."
WATCH: SMITH TALKS ABOUT HIS KNEE REHAB
