HANOVER, N.J. — At least two times a week, every week in March, New York Red Bulls coach Chris Armas has been asked about the health of MLS Best XI fullback Kemar Lawrence.
The answer was pretty consistent from Armas, who said the club is being patient and making sure they bring Lawrence, who suffered an MCL injury last November, along the right way.
It would appear the training wheels are off of Lawrence, who played 90 minutes for Jamaica in a 2-0 loss to El Salvador in a Concacaf Nations League qualifier in San Salvador last Friday.
It was the first time he played the full 90 minutes in a competitive match since the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Columbus Crew on Nov. 11.
“I said this last week, we could have pushed Kemar a certain way in these last few weeks, but we wanted to be responsible and cautious to make sure we’re looking after him,” Armas said after training Thursday. “We’re thrilled that Kemar played 90 minutes, that he training back like he never left. He was sharp today, he was in with the group, he’s chiming in a lot during the video session. He’s back with us and that’s a big part, he’s a big presence in our back line.”
Armas praised Lawrence, and the Jamaican federation, for an open line of communication regarding the 26-year-old left back, who was an unused sub in a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in an international friendly three days later in San Jose.
“Kemar has done a great job communicating with us when he leaves — he did the day he left, he did while he was away,” Armas said. “We knew his minimum was going to be like 70 minutes, if he’s feeling really good, he can push more so that went perfectly as planned.”
Lawrence came off the bench and played the final 45 minutes in the Red Bulls’ Concacaf Champions League opener against Atletico Pantoja on Feb. 20 in Santo Domingo. But while Lawrence said he physically felt fine, the coaching and medical staffs saw differently and essentially shut him down from game action, although he trained without limitation.
“For them to calculate it, it’s a lot of different things going through their minds,” Lawrence said. “For me, it’s just I’m feeling good, I want to play. But I was good, I was coming along the right way. I feel like they made the right choice and now I’m feeling perfect.”
In preparation for his Reggae Boyz call-up, Lawrence played 45 minutes with Red Bulls II in a scrimmage against Toronto FC 2 on March 16.
“We thought that we built him up the right way,” Armas said. “We sent him off with 45 minutes here with the USL team and he was strong in a controlled setting. And we let them know that he can progress further. For him to get 90 minutes, come out of there feeling great, healthy, is obviously a good thing for us around here.”
Armas said the Jamaican federation was informed of Lawrence’s progression with the Red Bulls and the data gleaned from the GPS tracker he wears at training and in games. Jamaica returned the favor and Armas was pleased with the numbers he saw.
“There’s communication, so there’s clarity in where players are physically. If a guy leaves camp, and he’s healthy, but he’s coming off an injury, it’s important that they know exactly — Jamaica in this case — his workloads and what he’s been doing so they don’t push him,” Armas said. “Our interests should be the same. We want to get the player back so he can maximize on both ends. There is communication, especially when it needs to be.”
Lawrence said it didn’t matter the team, be it Jamaica or the Red Bulls, or the competition, he was just pleased to be back on the field in a competitive game.
“I love to be on the field, doesn’t matter what game we play, which league we play, how many minutes I play. I just love to be on the field because every time I’m out there I know what kind of impact I can make,” Lawrence said. “I know how I can help the team. I have confidence in my guys when I’m not playing so I love to see them play as well. But I love to be on the field, I feel like I always helped my team.”
Lawrence was one of four Red Bulls players called up during the FIFA international window. Michael Amir Murillo played 85 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Brazil in Portugal on March 23, Aaron Long went 90 minutes for the USMNT in a 1-0 win over Ecuador on March 21 and Kaku went 68 minutes in a 4-2 loss to Mexico on Tuesday.
All four were back training with the Red Bulls on Thursday.
“The guys pick up right where they left off, but you can tell that they come back a little taller,” Armas said. “The experiences that you always take with you from those international experiences, it just makes you feel like you’ve made progress as a player.”