So last June I had surgery on my ACL and MCL. since then i have been rehabbing it pretty well; squats, leg press, hamstring curls, balancing. My problem now is that my calf gets super tight and incredibly sore even if i stretch before, between and after the games. i have also lost my take off speed. i know i can take off and run faster, but my leg wont let me. could this be because i lost 1.5-2 inches of muscle around my leg? im trying to gain it back but its taking a lot longer than i thought.

i heard that wearing an acl brace during training hinders growth and stability of the knee and leg, but im worried training without it can put me at risk for further injury. should i be training without it to promote further growth, or continue using the brace. i really want to get this knee/leg back up to par since soccer season has already started.