CARSON, Calif. -- When the 2008 MLS season started, there were two things Jonathan Bornstein likely did not count on.
First, he probably thought his lateral collateral ligament would hold up just fine. Secondly, if anyone was going to play left back it was probably going to be him.
As it turned out, Bornstein's knee injury caused him to miss time with Chivas USA and now that he's back, Francisco Mendoza has settled into the left back position.
But Bornstein is not exactly complaining about the situation.
"I kind of expected that sitting on the sidelines," he said. "I saw him doing a really good job back there and same thing with Carey (Talley) on the other side. Why switch it up when it's working? We haven't been giving up very many goals and the back is solid."
Bornstein has still proven his worth in his newfound role. Against Chicago on June 19, Bornstein came on at the start of the second half and helped a 10-man Chivas USA side protect a lead as the Red-and-White won 2-0.
Still, Bornstein's season took a rather unexpected twist during a training session in early May when his knee gave out on him. Subsequent tests revealed damage to his lateral collateral ligament.
Bornstein was ruled out 4-6 weeks and was put in a position he'd not been in before.
"Very strange, something new," Bornstein said when asked how he handled his time away from the playing field. "Since I was in college I've never missed a game. It was kind of something I was always proud about, that I was always ready for games and I kind of pushed through it, maybe through a little bit of injury but I was always ready and fit to go."
A year ago, Bornstein injured his knee late in the preseason but he recovered in time to play in the season opener. This time around, Bornstein missed five games.
Having injured his medial collateral ligament a year ago, Bornstein knew what to expect in terms of rehabilitating the knee. A year ago, he underwent a procedure known as platelet rich plasma, in which blood is drawn, removed of its plasma and injected into his injured knee.
The procedure is effective but can be a bit painful. Bornstein expected both and was right on both counts.
"I went into it thinking there was going to be a lot of pain this time because the first time it was excruciating right when they started pushing in the blood. This time he told me it might not be as painful because it's a different ligament and it's got a little bit more space," he said. "A couple hours after the local anesthetic wore away, it started hurting moreso than the other one."
Had he not had the procedure, perhaps he would not have been able to recover so quickly.
"It kind of sets you back a little bit. For the first three days you are really sore, you lose a little of range of motion and it's almost like you got injured all over again," he said. "But then right after that process is over, I can almost feel it start kicking in, you feel your strength getting back and you feel like you can do exercises that you weren't able to do."
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