The prevailing image of Richie Ryan during his injury recovery was born out of repetition.

Due to a stress fracture suffered in the June 27 match at Toronto FC II, the Futbol Club Cincinnati midfielder could only watch his teammates practice over the last two-plus months.

So, almost every day, he'd park himself in the Nippert Stadium bleachers in his full FC Cincinnati training kit and survey the action from mere feet away.

Stoic. Hands clasped. Fingers laced. Watching and waiting and hoping tomorrow could be the day he jogged and the physical activity didn't cause a setback that would further delay his return to FC Cincinnati's summer-long unbeaten run.

"The difficult part is watching the lads train and realizing you’re not able to do these things. That’s the problem of it," Ryan told The Enquirer. "It’s a big part of the game and unfortunately, it’s not a nice part of the game... I don’t think people see from the outside. People watch a game. They play well. You win, and you think it’s great to be a professional footballer, but for somebody that’s injured, it’s not so glamorous.

"If you can’t kick a ball around, that’s your living."

There are times when the courteous and outgoing Ryan's spirit has been beaten back, too. The hardest period during Ryan's rehabilitation, he said, was during the club's two-match road trip to play Atlanta United 2 and Tampa Bay Rowdies on Aug. 22 and 25, respectively.

Ryan was left back with just a handful of his comrades.

"(That) week was probably the most difficult week I’ve had because it was only me, Tyler (Gibson), and Tomi (Ameobi) and Mark (Village) that were here," Ryan said. "You walk in every morning and the place is empty... It’s nice to be around the group every day. I know already that when I finish my football, that’s what I’ll miss the most. The camaraderie, the friendships that you have in the dressing room – that’s something that people don’t have in their everyday lives."

Professional soccer exists in many forms. For most locals, it exists as memories of raucous scenes from Nippert Stadium and Futbol Club Cincinnati's elite lineup thrilling the thronging masses at Nippert.

What almost certainly doesn't come to mind when you think about pro soccer are players like Ryan fighting the agony, solitude, and pressure that accompany an injury.

That's something plenty in the Cincinnati organization appreciate, including head coach Alan Koch, who has had health issues in his own playing career.

"Players that are rehabbing from injury, that's a very, very tough mental time in a player's career," Koch said. "My heart bleeds for these guys when they're out. Our jobs are to come here and showcase ourselves and be able to do our jobs. For a player, you have to be able to be healthy to do your job. There's nothing worse than going to work and not being able to do your job."

With every bit of the professionalism and zest for the game his healthier teammates get to demonstrate in televised matches before the big crowds, Ryan, who started 14 of the first 16 league matches the club played this season, has been working tirelessly to save his 2018 campaign, and he's doing it with almost none of the fanfare.

Ryan isn't angry or seeking sympathy. He simply wants a chance to reclaim this year. Throughout that endeavor, his charismatic personality has been buoyed by family and teammates.

“I’m always winning. I have a wife and two kids that are healthy," Ryan said. "In a way, it (the injury) probably made me strong mentally because everything’s been put into perspective."

Ryan's also buoyed by the fact that he's progressing in his rehab, albeit with occasional setbacks.

As far as the recovery process goes, Ryan is closely surveyed by team trainer Aaron Powell on a near-daily basis.

Ryan has it his disposal a full suite of medical experts and high-tech gadgetry to help him.

Recently, he's has been more active during FC Cincinnati training sessions. He hasn't touched a ball in a meaningful way in a while, but he's running more, and with lessening recovery time between his runs.

There's still plenty of time for Ryan to close out 2018 on a high note.

Six matches remain in the 2018 regular season, which runs until Oct. 13.

The season could be extended by four matches and an additional month of training if FC Cincinnati makes a run to the USL Cup championship match, although it becomes less likely Ryan would feature in any playoff matches if he doesn't make an impact before the end of the regular season.

Ryan won't do anything to risk further injury and his 2019 season. Soon, though, the physical tests will reveal if he has a chance to recover the current season that, at one point, was notably promising.

Ryan said he's confident he'll get the opportunity.

"There is time to left but each week goes by pretty fast for somebody that’s injured, and in my experience throughout my career, it’s always the second half of the season that seems to go quicker than the first," Ryan said. "Obviously, we’re enjoying ourselves at the moment. We’re winning every week, which is great for the group. I’ve just got to focus on the injury and make sure that it heals. Hopefully, I can come back with five, six games before the playoffs and get back in the team, and make an impact when I do."