While 2015 was a season of great success for the New York Red Bulls, one defender’s season was cut short after a devastating leg injury.

Chris Duvall, an opening day starter for the Red Bulls at left back in 2015, was a key contributor to the team’s back line before a broken tibia sidelined him in July.

Despite the massive blow to the team, and an even bigger one for the 24-year old defender, Duvall has worked endlessly to get himself back in shape for the upcoming MLS season.

“This is the team atmosphere that I remember from months back,” Duvall told SBI. “It’s really nice to be back and a part of it. The intensity of battling with the guys is something that I really missed. When you miss something and haven’t done it in a while, sometimes you build it up to something that it may not end up being, but I know what I was missing and I’m very happy to be back.”

A second-round selection in the 2014 MLS Draft, Duvall was expected to bring great things to the Red Bulls in his second season with the club. Including his rookie season, Duvall made 34 appearances and 32 starts for the Red Bulls, adding a goal and an assist.

In terms of how Duvall feels he needs to improve to get back to where he was a year ago, the defender says that it’s more of a mental process than anything else.

“Just mentally getting back to the speed of play is something I need to adjust to,” Duvall said. “For the last few months I was able to get some touches on the sidelines by myself but you can’t really simulate the speed of play and the intensity of the guys out there. This is the highest level, so it’s been tough getting my brain back to where it needs to be, but it’s definitely coming along.”

While the disappointment over Duvall’s injury resonated throughout the team, head coach Jesse Marsch is very pleased with the left back’s continued progress as he looks to get back to full health.

“All of us, including Chris, were disappointed with how long it took, which is normal for the type of injury he had,” Marsch told SBI. “We now think that we’re ahead of the adjusted schedule. Chris is very sharp and the things that he brings every day are excellent. He covers ground and he never backs down, so those things are very good. I think that every day he is progressing and gets quicker and healthier and is close to 100 percent.”

In the absence of Duvall, players like Homegrown talent Connor Lade and Sal Zizzo served as key replacements for the young defender, playing more than half of the season. Zizzo, who finished the season for the Red Bulls at right back, has grown his confidence at the position and that will make the road for Duvall all the more difficult.

The challenge that Duvall faces for playing time is something that he welcomes, and he says that the competition is a good thing for his team at the end of the day.

“I think that’s what we all love,” Duvall said. “I was pleased to see guys like Sal and Connor do well while I was out, of course, but really that just makes us all better. If there’s no competition within the team that’s when you start to get complacent. I think it’s great that we have so many players battling and playing well because that’s going to make us better in the long run. I just hope to join that battle and we can push each other from there.”