During the offseason, Diego Valeri would often arrive at Providence Park by 8 a.m.

In the mornings, the Portland Timbers midfielder would spend his time inside in the gym with the Timbers medical and training staff, working on strengthening and stretching out his surgically repaired knee. He would return again in the afternoon to continue going through rehabilitation exercises.

Valeri underwent surgery to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in early November. He is hoping to be back on the field by May.

"This is the worst moment for a player," Valeri said. "We keep thinking about getting back on the field. That's our motivation."

This is not how Valeri expected to spend his offseason.

The Timbers playmaker finished the 2014 season as Portland's leader in goals (11) and assists (14). His 11 goals set an MLS club record for most goals in a single season and his 14 assists tied the Timbers all-time club record for most assists in a single season. He was named to the MLS All-Star team for his performance.

But on the final day of the 2014 season, in a game against FC Dallas, Valeri went down in the 26th minute.

He knew immediately that he had seriously injured his knee, but didn't want to believe it. He tried to continue playing until halftime, at which point Timbers coach Caleb Porter removed his star midfielder from the game.

Valeri tore the ACL in his right knee eight years ago and knew before he went in for an MRI at the end of October that he had likely sustained another torn ACL.

"Yes I knew, but I didn't want that," Valeri said. "But I knew that something had happened with the knee because I had this experience in the other leg."

Valeri, who spent the previous offseason recovering from a sports hernia injury, said that dealing with the injuries can be frustrating.

"I have to be patient," Valeri said. "I know that. The time that I lose now, I will win later. I know that to be good when I get back, I have to work now for that."

Valeri said he is currently working on his mobility and strengthening his knee. He no longer feels any pain in his knee, but doesn't expect to start running for another few weeks.

On Friday, Valeri attended the Timbers first practice of the season, but after Porter addressed the team, Valeri and Timbers captain Will Johnson, who is recovering from a broken leg, left the rest of the group to work on their rehab with the training staff.

Valeri said it gave him a little bit of a boost to see his team training together for the first time.

"For me and for Will too," Valeri said, "it's good to see our team training in the stadium."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg