It’s been a taxing year for Johnny Russell. Sporting KC should proceed with caution

The potential for a fresh start lured Johnny Russell to Kansas City. His stay with Derby County FC in England had run dry, and nothing presented a more intriguing challenge than a destination 3,000 miles away.

In the transfer to Sporting KC, he was willing to relinquish an offseason but reluctantly obliged Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes’ instructions to take a two-week break before traveling stateside.

It remains the only intermission from soccer that Russell has received in the past 12 months. And that’s prompted a daily conversation between player and coach as Sporting KC grinds through the heat of the MLS season.

“I’ve never had a stretch like this in my career,” Russell said. “At times, I…