No matter the profession, having an older, more experienced colleague to help you grow can help you realize your potential, and soccer is no different.

Brooklyn Raines has seen himself grow a lot as a player in 2026. He has been a key part of the New England midfield and has garnered attention across the league. Raines was named the 10th-best player under the age of 22 in all of Major League Soccer.

The midfielder has brought a calm to the midfield over the course of the season that is rare for players of such a young age. It has also helped that he has been paired with Matt Polster and Alhassan Yusuf, two veterans of the game.

While Yusuf is currently out, Raines has been paired with Polster. The American midfielder has recently returned to the midfield after playing out wide at right back while Ilay Feingold has dealt with an injury.

Polster was able to score a goal in New England's recent match against Chicago and Raines described how much he enjoys getting to play with the former Rangers man.

"I love Polster," Raines said. "He's actually one of my favorite players on the team. Any time I'm in the midfield with him, I know we're going to do the work for each other. I know that he brings a lot of composure and communication, and obviously congrats to him for the goal today. Anytime he's in there, I have full trust in him, and obviously he has full trust in me. We're able to work off each other well. Sometimes he might pivot up and be playing the eight, and I'll be the six, or sometimes vice versa. I think over time we've built a lot of really good chemistry, both on and off the field."

But Raines also got to learn from a USMNT veteran while he was with the national team. Being a midfielder, he naturally gravitated towards Tyler Adams.

"I think everyone was really helpful in the process," Raines said about his time with the national team. "Obviously, the person I think I can probably relate to most is Tyler Adams. I think not only because we play the same position, but just everything he's done, not only for club but also the national team. He's someone I've looked up to for a long time. Getting to share that experience with him was a blessing. Hopefully, I can continue to learn from him. Hopefully, get more call-ups. He was definitely someone I was shadowing, you could say, while I was there."

It was an impressive camp for Raines. He earned two starts and appeared in all four matches.

The midfielder noted that he learned a lot at camp that will follow him while he plays for New England.

"I had a really good experience," Raines said. "I think the biggest takeaway I probably had was coach Pochettino mentioned true love for the game, and how, whenever you're with the national team, you basically belong to the federation. It's not something that should be taken for granted. It's something you take pride in. When you're there, you're wanting to work, wanting to get better every day, wanting to be there to compete. He mentioned also, when players go back to their clubs that it's not really a kind of relaxed moment. It's more like when you get there, you should be working even harder than your teammates. Obviously, yes, you're a national team player, but that doesn't give you any luxury to think that you're higher or better than anyone. I think it's more about staying humble and then just continuing to work. So I think for me it was just finding the true love for the game and then just continuing to work."

If Raines continues to work hard, he has the opportunity to etch out a role for himself on the national team. He could be a part of a new wave of midfielders such as Adri Mehmeti and Sebastian Berhalter to replace the likes of Adams.

Raines has a good head on his shoulders and is ready to put in the work. While that determination has existed from a young age, it is being further aided by his veteran teammates.

With how well he has played, he could even start attracting international interest. He is still a young player who can grow a lot even though he is playing so well. While getting his start in Houston, he could become the latest Revs youngster to make a major move after performing well with the club.