Carlos Vela misses Los Angeles FC's match against Houston Dynamo

Carlos Vela is still not one hundred percent physically after the muscle injury suffered in the first game of the season against Austin FC. The Los Anegeles FC star has only played 20 minutes this season and manager Bob Bradley confirmed that the forward is not yet available to play in Saturday's game against the Houston Dynamo. “He has not yet fully returned to training in tandem with the group, so I don't consider it. He's in the questionable category”, coach Bob Bradley said after training.

The good news for the aurinegros is that they get their other Designated Player in Diego Rossi back. The 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner, he missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury, but will be able to make his debut in the team's first away game against the Dynamo.

“It has been difficult to start the season without two or three of our best players, but in the end they are things that happen in football. The mentality of the group is to go out on the pitch and give the best to the one who gets it, in that sense we are very happy with the level we have given in these first games", he said.

"Diego (Rossi) returning now is a great help because he is one of the best players in the league, he is a great striker and it will help us a lot to have him back," shared goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. LAFC is off to a 4-point start to the season, following a win over Austin FC and a draw with the Seattle Sounders. At the start of this tournament, injuries have plagued the Los Angeles camp.

In addition to Vela and Rossi, last game they did not have their starting left back, Tristan Blackmon, the young forward who had replaced Vela, Danny Musovksi and the South Korean reinforcement, Kim Moon-Hwan, who could debut in MLS this Saturday.

“Blackmon is in the final stages of his recovery, but he wouldn't be ready to play Houston. Danny (Musovski) is better, he is in the call, just like Moon is ready for the trip. Kim (Moon-Hwan) has already participated in full workouts this week and even though he is not there for 90 minutes, he could have action", said Bradley.

The Houston Dynamo has sought to reinvent itself this season, especially under pressure from the arrival of a new team to the state of Texas. Before the start of the campaign, the duel between franchises could be seen to begin, when the Dynamo snatched the signing of Joe Corona from Austin.

“They are a team that has improved, they have skilled players. It will be a great game”, said Bradley. “They have speed on both sides with Fafa Picault and Tyler Pasher. Maxi Urruti is a great player, Memo Rodríguez had a great season last year. The way they attack and how they try to get the ball back after they lose it are details that show a great advance compared to the previous tournament".