Nine months and 24 days since his last competitive match, Chris Schuler finally returned to a starting lineup. The 28-year-old oft-injured center back made his Real Monarchs debut Saturday night in a start against Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park seven weeks after signing a deal with Real Salt Lake's USL affiliate.
Schuler's previous deal with RSL expired after a year in which he played just five regular-season matches. Twice a year ago, Schuler underwent surgery that guaranteed his 2015 season to be the most frustrating of his career. Schuler underwent meniscus surgery in his knee in April that kept him out until July.