Forward progress: Dube back

Rookie starts on bench again

FOXBOROUGH - Rookie Kheli Dube had no idea he was doing himself more harm than good.

In the SuperLiga final Aug. 5, Dube knew something wasn't quite right but he didn't feel any pain. What Dube felt was a severe adductor strain that kept the Zimbabwe native out of the Revolution lineup from Aug. 9 to Sept. 11. Dube was available at Colorado last week but didn't play. On the bench at the start of last night's 1-0 loss to Columbus, he came on for Kenny Mansally and played the final 31 minutes.

In 17 MLS games, Dube has four goals and three assists. He leads MLS rookies in both categories.

"I'm feeling good," said Dube before the game.

At one point recently, when fellow forwards Mansally, Taylor Twellman, and Adam Cristman were also unavailable, Dube said he wanted to work harder to get back in the lineup.

"It makes you feel guilty, but it's not your fault," he said.

Coach Steve Nicol said Dube has looked good at training sessions and just needs a few games back to get to where he was before the injury.

Dube's ability to play while hampered has been noticed.

"It just tells you what kind of pro he is," Nicol said.

First priority
New England is 0-6-4 in MLS games when its opponent scores first.

The Revolution were more than happy to leave Colorado with a point last week after forcing a 1-1 tie with the Rapids. Colin Clark gave Colorado the lead in the 42d minute. Mansally entered the game in the second half and scored in the 50th minute, his first goal since returning to the lineup after recovering from an ankle sprain.

"It was good we came back and got the point," defender Michael Parkhurst said. "We haven't come back on teams too much this year compared to previous years, so it's good to know we can do that."

With four matches left in the regular season, Parkhurst said the Revolution can benefit from every type of positive result.

"You want to go into the playoffs playing well and with confidence whether that be scoring, getting shutouts, coming from behind; it's the little things that give you the confidence to know that when that happens in the playoffs, you'll be ready for it," Parkhurst said.

Shooting for 100
Twellman is three shy of reaching 100 career regular-season goals. If he reaches the milestone, he would become the first Revolution player, and the fifth in MLS history, to accomplish the feat. He is on pace to become the youngest to reach 100 goals.

Twellman has six goals this season, four in his previous six matches.

Twellman has produced after overcoming injuries this season. He has had surgery to repair a tear in his medial meniscus and has overcome a right ankle sprain.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com