Real Salt Lake player and former US international Clint Mathis now feels he has no excuses regarding fitness and is ready to go out and play.

Speaking to his team's official website Mathis said, "I think I'm just happy playing soccer again, and trying to be as fit as possible.

"That's the only thing people have ever held over my head is my fitness.

"I'm a lot older than what the 'Old Clint' was," continued Mathis.

"There's been quite a few years that I've lost in between but the fitness helps my body hold up. It also helps with the confidence.

"It takes that much more pressure off of me to have to worry about, 'Hey, am I going to be fit enough?' Then it turns into 'Clint's not fit, that's why he's not playing well.' Now I don't have that excuse and I have the freedom to just go out and play."