Tied for first in the Western Conference, the Galaxy will be without Dejan Joveljic, Julian Aude and Gaston Brugman going into Saturday's game in Dallas
The Galaxy arrive at the start of another three-game week, looking to weather a storm of key absences.
The Galaxy (12-4-7, 43 points) will kick off the busy stretch Saturday on the road against FC Dallas. Missing will be forward Dejan Joveljic (hamstring) and left back Julian Aude (groin), along with midfielder Gaston Brugman (knee), who is still out of the country.
Joveljic leads the Galaxy in scoring with 12 goals, but was taken off at halftime of Sunday’s game.
“Dejan (Joveljic) is going to miss this weekend for sure, possibly the rest of the week,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Thursday. “The hamstring tightness is something we’re going to have to manage and be very smart with.
“It’s a very good chance we close him up for this week. It’s a matter of the significance of the situation. Tightness (in the hamstring) usually means something in the low grade. I don’t think it is significant, but it is something where he’s going to need a little bit of time.”
Aude sat out Sunday’s game and could be down for an extended period of time.
“We’re going to shut him down for a little bit, just to try to get this irritation that’s been bothering him healed up,” Vanney said. “Try to profit from this week and the Leagues Cup time that we have to try to get him back to where he needs to be.”
Replacing Joveljic’s scoring output is the greatest challenge. The simple swap is forward Miguel Berry, sliding into the forward position.
“Miguel is the natural fill-in,” Vanney said. “At times, the other fill is a striker by committee with different guys who can step in and give us some minutes. For sure, this is an opportunity for Miguel to step in and give us that presence that we need at the 9 (forward). With three games in 7-8 days, it might have to be striker by committee at times.”
The Galaxy might tinker with a formation that could see either Joseph Painstil or Gabriel Pec in the forward position.
“They both can, but they’re both more comfortable on the wing,” Vanney said. “Joe definitely gives you the stretch and the run behind (the defense) and the speed, Gabe give you a little more physicality, to be able to hold things up and still do the running … it might even be fluid inside of the game, where guys step into the role for periods of time.”
After Saturday’s game in Dallas, the Galaxy returns home for games against Colorado (July 17) and Portland (July 20). The Leagues Cup tournament, featuring MLS and Liga MX teams, begins July 31.
Brugman, who has missed the past eight games, is currently in Uruguay working to get his green card. When Brugman returns, Vanney said the team will evaluate where he is on the return to play.
Jonathan Perez (hamstring) is also nearing a return. Vanney said if he’s not available for Saturday, he could be ready by Wednesday’s home game against the Rapids.
“It’s an all-Western Conference week,” Vanney said. “These are all big points. Dallas is a tough place to play at this time of year, so it’s being able to manage the conditions, in addition to obviously the team. It’s whatever they bring to the table plus the humidity and the warm weather of Dallas.
“Colorado is in a nice run of form and Portland has found their rhythm a little bit more. We have to be efficient, have to get something out of everybody this week, that’s going to be important.”
The Galaxy signed midfielder Isaiah Parente from Ventura County FC through the end of the season, with two club option years.
Parente, 24, has started 16 games with the club formerly known as Galaxy II. He made his first-team debut July 19 as a late sub against New York City FC.
Ruben Ramos Jr. was also added on a second short-term agreement with VCFC, for the second time this season. Ramos, 17, was also selected to the U.S. U-20 team for the next week’s CONCACAF U-20 Championships.
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas
How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
