FC Dallas will be without emerging star Paxton Pomykal on Saturday for the Texas Derby as the 19-year-old is out two weeks with a hamstring tweak, per head coach Luchi Gonzalez.
Pomykal suffered the injury in the club's 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes and is expected to be named to the US U-20 World Cup squad later this month if healthy, which kicks off on May 23.
"He's recovering. It's a tweak. Nothing too serious. Hopefully no more than two weeks or so. That's positive for me. Could be worse," Gonzalez said via Dallas News. "He's been exerting himself. He's played a lot of back-to-back minutes, more than he has before. This is just a moment where he's a bit fatigued and picked up a tweak. We're going to take care of it and he's going to bounce back strong."
Pomykal has been a revelation this season, as the 19-year-old has started all nine matches for Dallas, adding two goals and an assist. He is expected to be healthy in time for the U-20 World Cup in Poland.
"Anybody selected to the national team at different levels in ages in a real FIFA competition, we're a club that wants to support that," Gonzalez said. "We want him healthy for FC Dallas, for his teammates, and representing the national team at different levels when given the opportunity. All that's important for us."
Dallas could utilize playmaker Pablo Aranguiz centrally instead on the left in Pomykal's absence, or Gonzalez could elect for a more defensive approach by playing three of Carlos Gruezo, Edwin Cerrillo, Bryan Acosta and Jacori Hayes.
