Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan, left, has earned the respect and admiration of his teammates with his durability. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

What's the old saying mail carriers use around the post office?

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night shall keep these couriers from their appointed rounds.

In Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan's case, replace rain, sleet and gloom of night with fractured ribs, a broken wrist and a call-up to play for Canada at this past summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Up until last Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids, Brennan played every minute (2,430 in total) of every regular season game (27 in all) for Toronto FC this season.

It's a feat made all the more impressive when you consider the veteran defender cracked two ribs in a July 22 game against the Columbus Crew (he finished that game and played two more before having an X-ray that showed the extent of the injury) and played with a cast on his left arm after breaking his wrist in an Aug. 12 contest against the New York Red Bulls.

And when he was invited to play for Canada at the Gold Cup in June, Brennan, 30, politely turned down the invitation to represent his country, as it would have meant missing several games for Toronto.

Brennan's amazing streak for Toronto FC would surely have continued if he hadn't tweaked his right knee last Thursday in a game against New York, an injury that ruled him out for this past weekend's tilt in Colorado.

As Toronto FC's iron man, Brennan has earned the admiration and respect of his teammates and coaches, but he insists that he hasn't done anything special by playing while injured.

Injuries, according Brennan, are just part of soccer.

"You pick up niggling injuries all the time, and yeah, it hurts when you play, but most of the guys are playing injured, whether it be a hamstring or a sore hip, something's always hurting," Brennan told CBCSports.ca

"Most times when you play a professional sport, very rarely do you play when you feel totally fantastic and when there's nothing wrong with you. I've been fortunate enough, to a certain extent, that [the injuries] have all been to the upper body. It hasn't been my legs or knees, so I've been able to play. It's been difficult but at the same time I want to play as many games as I can for this club."

No one would have faulted Brennan if, instead of playing with a special jacket under his jersey to protect his ribs or a cast on his arm, he decided to sit out a few games to heal and recover. But Brennan would have minded, and that's why he chose to play through the pain.

"I just felt I was all right to play," he said. "Obviously, it's painful and it's sore, but I wanted to play and I was OK with it."

A decade of English soccer

Before coming to Toronto, Brennan spent the past decade playing in England for a number of teams, including Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and Southampton. He carved out a reputation as an industrious left midfielder during his stay in England, so much so that Nottingham Forest paid Bristol City $2.6 million for him in October 1999, a record transfer fee for a Canadian at the time.

Brennan's English tenure did not, however, end on the best of notes. He joined Norwich City just after the club was promoted to the Premiership, but a rash of injuries prevented Brennan from making any kind of lasting impression in English soccer's top flight.

A move to Southampton also proved uneventful, as he only made a dozen or appearances for the Saints before parting ways with the team, and his club career appeared to be in jeopardy.

But then Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment was granted an MLS expansion franchise, and Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston made Brennan, originally from Newmarket, Ont., his first player signing last September.

It took a leap of faith to return to Canada to play for an expansion franchise, but Brennan is ecstatic with how it's worked out.

"It's been fantastic. When I first signed here I didn't know what to expect. I don't think anybody really did. To be playing here in Toronto in my hometown, selling out week in and week out with our fantastic fans, it's been great," Brennan explained.

Brennan has capably marshalled Toronto's defence this season. (Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)

"My friends and family can come watch me play now, whereas they couldn't really do it when I was in Europe."

Aside from his durability, Brennan has also won praise for his versatility. After playing as a left midfielder for most of his career, coach Johnston transformed the Canadian veteran into a central defender this season in Toronto.

The results? Brennan has become a bulwark stopper who has efficiently organized and marshalled Toronto's back line.

"It's been different, but I think I've come to terms with it quite easily. Most players can play in almost any position," Brennan said.

"I played left-back for a lot of my career. I played left midfield and I played in the centre of midfield, so playing as a centre-back was a bit different. But I enjoyed it, it was something they asked me to do from the beginning, and I think I settled in pretty quickly and I enjoyed playing back there."

Leading on the pitch

Rookie defender Andrew Boyens, from New Zealand, credits Brennan as being instrumental to his development as a player.

"He's a lead-by-example captain. He just gets things done. When the chips are down, he's always the first to put his hand up and motivate the boys. He does it most by going out there and performing on the pitch," Boyens said.

Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson, a former teammate of Brennan's at Norwich, has been impressed with the way the Canadian has mentored the club's young players.

"He helps out the youngsters. He's always talking on the pitch, egging each on.… He is a good leader, he leads by example and everybody looks up to him," the Welshman said.

Robinson also feels that the key to Brennan's success with Toronto FC is down to the Canadian playing in a friendly, more comfortable environment.

"He's a lot happier, now. He's back with his family, he's back where he belongs. At Norwich, he wasn't happy when I was there. I joined at a time when he wasn't playing much, but he deserved to be and he should have been, so I could see it was getting to him then," Robinson said.

That's not to say Brennan couldn't still be playing in Europe. Before signing with Toronto, he was approached by several European clubs, but Brennan chose to return to Canada to play in his hometown.

Despite Toronto struggling in its first MLS season, it's a decision that Brennan, who is currently negotiating a two-year contract extension with the club, hasn't regretted for a second.

"I had a few clubs interested in me in coming back to England and there were a couple in other parts of Europe, but I felt it was time to come home. I wanted to have a few good years here in Toronto and I wanted to be part of this. I have no regrets whatsoever. I'm just so happy to be able to play here in Toronto."