New England Revolution center back Henry Kessler is young MLS player with all-star potential who needs a do-over.

Kessler, 26, is rebuilding his career in a new system under a new head coach after missing 24 straight games last season with a hamstring injury that required surgery.

Kessler had conditioning and preventive strategies in place before the Revolution embarked on a new era under Caleb Porter at the club’s training facility at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

“I feel really good and I think the build-up so far in preseason has been good and I am looking to playing more and more,” said Kessler. “I started with 45 minutes and the next time is 60 and we will continue to build on that.

“I kind of feel like this is great. I am building into the season properly and looking forward to it.”

Kessler returned to play the final three regular season games and two MLS Cup playoff games against Philadelphia. The Revolution were a club in turmoil in the final three months, having lost head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena under a dark cloud at the start of August.

Despite his history of injuries and damage control going on in the front office, the Revolution tendered Kessler a two-year contract extension using targeted allocation money through the 2025 season with a one-year club option in 2026.

“I meant a lot to me,” said Kessler. “It meant that they thought of me as a player that was here for the long-term and that they still believed in me.”

Porter has won MLS Cups with Portland and Columbus so he has a track record of building a back line to meet the challenges of MLS. Kessler has seen systematic alterations at the back end but remains part of the Revolution’s Big Three along with MLS ironman Andrew Farrell and the durable Dave Romney.

“The new system requires a guy that is good on the ball and good defensively,” said Kessler. “We have talked about building with two, building with three and building different ways and on the ball, be prepared to build in different ways.

“Defensively we are going to be a team that likes to press. You are going to be one-on-one at times and you are going to have to be comfortable doing that. That is what I have been presented with so far.”

Romney is a nine-year MLS veteran who came to New England in a trade from Nashville on Jan. 6, 2023. Romney turned into the most important off-season acquisition Arena made. Romney became the second player in club history to play every minute of the 34-regular season games for a total of 3,060 minutes.

“I played mostly with Dave last year and with him a lot this preseason too,” said Kessler. “I think we have good chemistry and he is a great player. He is good on the ball and defensively as well. So, we have been playing next to each other a bunch.”

Since being taken in the first round out of Virginia in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Kessler has been surrounded by exceptional players. He’s enjoyed the benefit of playing between two of the most dynamic outside backs in MLS, DeJuan Jones, and Brandon Bye, who is expected to return from knee surgery this summer.

Kessler has also played in front of two of the top keepers in MLS, Matt Turner and Djordje Petrovic, both of whom were lost to the English Premier League.

Keeper was a priority for new sporting director Curt Onalfo who acquired Henrich Ravas last month. Ravas is an internationally tested keeper who has played in England, Poland and with the Slovakian national team.

“Henrich looks sharp and he looks good and he’s got good size,” said Kessler. “It is a small sample size I have had so far but I’m impressed by what I’ve seen of him. If he does half as well as those other guys, he will be a great addition to the team.”

The Revolution have already played one preseason game against the New York Red Bulls and will host FC Cincinnati on Thursday. The Revolution engage Orlando City SC in Orlando on Feb. 10 and the Philadelphia Union at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

The Revolution will open the season in Panama for Round One of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup against CA Independiente at Estadio Universitario FC on Wednesday Feb. 21. The Revs open the MLS season at D.C United on Feb. 24.

“It is a hectic way to start the season,” said Kessler. “There are a lot of games early but we are building and preparing for that so I’m sure there is going to be some rotation.

“But it is an aggressive way to start the year and I think we will be ready for it.”