It is easy to forget about Julian de Guzman. Toronto FC’s first designated player earns a chunk of the team’s $2.675-million salary cap, but has seldom been seen at BMO Field this season as he continues to recover from off-season knee surgery. The midfielder has made only 10 league appearances in 2011, and has recently become the subject of trade rumours. But head coach Aron Winter insists de Guzman is part of his master plan. The Scarborough, Ont., native spoke to Toronto media Tuesday about his commitment to the team.

Have you felt 100% fit at any time this season?
“It has been tough coming back from the surgery and pushing myself as much as possible to be my best … It is part of the process. I’m still working at it, and I have a lot to offer once the knee fully recovers. I have spoken to other players who have had knee surgeries [and they’ve said] it takes them a full season to get their form back, so I’ve got to be patient.”

Are you feeling the love at BMO Field these days? You are a designated player, but the team has brought in other players recently.
“There has to be love if I’m still here, if I am still part of [Winter and assistant coach Bob de Klerk’s] plans, and if I’m still given the chance to play and help the team. I’m very appreciative. At the same time, things may not be going the way everyone would like them to go with the results and expectations, but I mean in this game it is all about unity with the management and also with the players. And … with Aron and Bob on board, I’m sure it will take time for them to have what they would like in their system, and how they would like the team run. So a lot of changes were expected and for me to be still a part of it, I’m really honoured.”

Are you still waiting to see, when you are healthy, what your role will be?
“I think the most important thing, before anything else, is being healthy and being available. And then from there we will be able to see how the pieces will settle into the puzzle … It is a matter of time [before Winter and de Klerk] get [the players] they want to work with, and I guess once they have that in full control then I think the whole franchise will see a lot of changes, not just with players but with results.”

Talk about the progress of the coaches’ pass-and-move offensive system.
“It is a very unusual system for this league. It is one that will definitely not dominate the league just after one season… this is something that nobody really expected to happen overnight. But this season has been a huge learning experience — not just for ourselves but also for Aron and Bob … You don’t find a 4-3-3 in Major League Soccer but, for myself, it is great to have it at TFC.

“When I look at the young guys, like Oscar [Cordon] or Keith [Makubuya] or Doneil [Henry] or Ashtone [Morgan], getting their chances to be a part of such a great system, and see these young guys learning every day — imagine in a couple years once they have this system down

“It is a style that has brought a lot success to a lot of soccer teams in the world, so to have this here in [the young players’] backyard, I think it is a great bonus for them … I enjoy playing it, I enjoy learning more about it as well, and most importantly, I enjoy seeing guys make progress, young Canadians who have something to look up to, which I never had growing up.”

• Email: mscianitti@nationalpost.com | Twitter: @mscianitti