Three pieces of bone, floating around in his knee like shrapnel from previous injuries, caused problems for Seb Hines.

Sometimes they got stuck in his joint, preventing him from finding a rhythm or reaching full running speed — a liability for a Major League Soccer centerback.

Hines put off having them removed as long as possible. He’d already undergone three knee surgeries in the past and knew the amount of work it took to come back.

But Orlando City’s relatively mild schedule to start the 2017 season, with a game in New England canceled due to weather and an international break, provided an ideal time in early March to get it done.

“It’s probably something that needed doing a long time ago,” Hines told the Orlando Sentinel after a full training session Tuesday. “It was very frustrating having it in there. But, having it cleared out has done a world of good. My range of movement is a lot better. I’m a lot more confident and comfortable during training and games.

Hines played 45 minutes with Orlando City B last week and will again play with the United Soccer League team this week. In terms of being fully fit for MLS competition, Orlando City coach Jason Kreis said he’s about 50 percent of the way there.

Hines attended every home match during his recovery. He watched from the sideline as the stadium opened to great fanfare and the team went on a 6-1 winning streak.

“It’s been amazing, the fans, the stadium, and you just sit on the sideline and you want to be a part of it,” Hines said. “It just makes you want to train hard and get back to playing.”

Kreis called Hines a “leader-type guy” and “a communicator and organizer,” part of an offseason plan that included two veteran centerbacks with those traits — Hines and Jonathan Spector — and two younger players — José Aja and Tommy Redding — to take cues from the others.

Hines took a pay cut of more than $20,000 to re-sign with the Lions on a three-year deal with options. Some fans scoffed at his new contract after what they perceived to be a sub par 2016 performance as part of a defense that allowed a league-leading 60 goals.

“That’s crazy,” Lions assistant coach C.J. Brown said. “I’m not on social media, but I did hear about that. Seb is unbelievable. He comes into training every day, works hard, he’s there after training. He’s fully committed to what he’s doing, fully committed to this team.

“He’s been in a tough situation with his injuries. So, I get why people would be on him a little bit, everybody wants to see results, but Seb is a guy who’s giving you everything and I think he’s been great for us ... whether he’s getting stuck in on hitting guys or trying to score goals at times. It’s not like he’s here cashing it in, trying to collect a check and do nothing.”

Aja and Spector were the starting pair at the beginning of the season. When Aja injured his hamstring, Redding took over and the club signed young Brazilian centerback Leo Pereira as backup. Now that Redding is off playing for the United States in the U-20 World Cup, Orlando City will likely go back to an Aja-Spector partnership. The time is right for Hines to work his way into the game-day roster and step up if either of those players needs a break.

Hines spent a decade with Middlesbrough F.C. in the English Premier League and the Championship before joining Orlando City in 2015. Despite struggling to return from a slew of serious injuries throughout his career, he maintains a serene quality and always speaks with a half-smile, regardless of topic.

After a 2013 Hines knee surgery, former Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray told a local BBC radio station, “He's a strong lad with good mentality so will come through it fine. He's been a warrior for us.”

That's typical Hines, according to Lions forward Giles Barnes, who has been friends with him since the two 28-year-olds were teens playing in England.

“He just takes it in stride,” Barnes said. “I think a lot of people don’t know what Seb was before. Seb was touted to be the next Rio Ferdinand, that’s how good Seb was. And I think, barring injuries, he would have been.”

Ferdinand, now 38, was a highly decorated Manchester United and English Premier League centerback, who set a record in 1997 as the youngest defender to play for England.

Barnes suggested all young players who want to know what it takes to be a professional look to Hines.

“Anyone who’s got that kind of mental strength to pull themselves back from almost retiring and carve themselves out a career maybe 10, 11 years after his first surgery, is an example for young players,” Barnes said. “He handles himself brilliant, even in adversity and in disheartenment. When he’s fit, for me, he’s still one of the best defenders in the league. He’s still got a lot to offer and I’m looking forward to seeing him back out on the pitch.”

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com