When news broke that Philadelphia Union midfielder Fafa Picault would be suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season, head coach Jim Curtin turned to a reliable member of the squad to fill the void.
Third-year midfielder Fabian Herbers entered the starting lineup for the first two matches of the season, with the Week 1 appearance against the New England Revolution being the first for the German since May 20, 2017.
“In Week 1, the discussion started (about Picault’s suspension) and it wasn’t 100 percent confirmed from the league.” Herbers said. “I just heard from second and third people. I thought to myself I better be ready because it could be a possibility you might start for the weekend. I prepared mentally for that and it ended up being that way with Fafa getting suspended. I was ready mentally and we got a win against New England so that was a good start for the team.”
Herbers spent the final five months of 2017 on the sidelines with injury issues, and he eventually ended up having sports hernia surgery that ended his season.
The process was a struggle for Herbers, who attempted to work back to full fitness before being diagnosed with the sports hernia.
“It’s very frustrating because the injury took me out for five months,” Herbers said. “The first two months I just felt a strain and I was trying to come back and then it still hurt a little bit so in training I wasn’t 100 percent because something held me back.”
“Then we did the MRI and it said it was a sports hernia and that’s when the surgery happened and it was another three months,” he continued. “And then even after those three months you feel it a little bit and it’s just super frustrating behind inside doing all the rehab.”
During the recovery process, Herbers was away from the team during training and felt the absence that comes up with a long-term injury like the one he went through.
“You see the other guys, it’s 90 degrees outside and they’re training in the sun and you’re just inside doing your rehab and it just gets boring after three, four, five months,” Herbers said. “After the year I had in my rookie year, I felt like I could have had a big impact on the team last year. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case and you have to deal with it and try to prove it this year.”
“Just seeing the team outside practicing and seeing them score and how happy everybody is for each other and when they win, they celebrate and you’re just on the sideline. I’m part of it, but I’m kind of not because you didn’t really contribute to anything that particular day or particular play and you didn’t participate in training the whole week either,” Herbers said.
“Of course you’re happy for the guys, but you’re somewhat distant and that distant feeling drives you. You want to be close to the group again. You want to be part of all that again and that just drives me to come back and be integrated into the squad.”
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Herbers, who recorded three goals and seven assists in 32 games his rookie season, was expected to be a major part of the Union’s midfield a year ago.
While in some cases an injury may set a player back on the depth chart, Herbers still has Curtin in his corner, and it’s shown by the manager’s willingness to go right back to the 24-year-old this season.
“That’s huge for a player. I think confidence makes up a huge part of your game,” Herbers said. “You can have a very good player, but if he’s not confident, the coach doesn’t believe in him. You see it all over the world at the highest level in Premier League and others. Some players work out on some teams and then they change a team and suddenly it doesn’t work out anymore.”
“For me, it’s big that Jim still has faith in me and puts me out there and I try to give back to him with my performances,” Herbers said. “I always give everything for the team, put 100 percent out there and try do my best for the team’s success. I think we did well the first two games with a good win against New England a tie against a strong Columbus team.”
Although he’s put the injury behind him and earned two starts, it’s only the beginning for a player who wants to force his way into the starting lineup when everyone on the roster is available.
“It’s just great, but it’s just the first step,” Herbers said. “For me, I want to start every game not only because Fafa is suspended or something. Of course it’s fulfilling in front of the home fans getting that win and getting results is always a good feeling, but I think there’s a whole other level I can reach so I try to improve every day and not just be satisfied with what I have achieved so far this season, which isn’t that much, but try to climb for more and reach more along the way.”