ORLANDO, Fla. – An injured Dom Dwyer attended the first day of Orlando City SC preseason camp but didn’t fully participate.
The second-year Lion is currently nursing a right-hamstring injury that kept him away from a United States men’s national-team camp this month. Dwyer will also miss a chance at another international appearance when the United States concludes camp with a friendly against the Bosnian and Herzegovinian men’s national team on Sunday.
“I’m doing well. Got out on the field today for a little bit,” Dwyer said after training Monday. “Not really in full training just yet but coming a lot closer, and body’s really recovering…
“I was very close to [going to USMNT camp]. It was probably two days before, and [the injury] was something that I’ve been battling for a little bit and decided it was really best to unfortunately pull out.”
Head coach Jason Kreis said Dwyer will regain fitness over the next two weeks. He’s expected to return for City’s second preseason matchup against Minnesota United FC.
“I think Dom will be a player that we’re looking to build up over the next two weeks,” Kreis said after training Monday. “He will not be in the training this week. He should start to be involved in all the on-field stuff next week.
“And so we believe that by our second preseason game that he should be available for that.”
After moving to Orlando City from Sporting Kansas City for a then-record $1.6 million in allocation money, Dwyer tallied 4 goals and a career-high 4 assists in just 12 games and 11 starts with City last season.
He also impressed on the international stage, scoring once in each of his first two caps.
Those impressions helped earn him a three-year contract extension with City. Dwyer’s contract was set to expire this year, but, now, with more stability, there’s a new comfort level with the club he helped win a USL Pro championship.
“I don’t think it will change my mindset. You know, of course, it’s a bit more stability,” Dwyer said. “I know I’m going to be here for a while, but, you know, my mindset is always, you know, to work hard, and we wanna achieve; we wanna win something.
“You know, this club has been dying to make the playoffs the last few years, and it’s our main focus right now, but, you know, it’s early; we’re in preseason, and we’ll work towards that.”
Dwyer’s a prolific goal-scorer, recording 57 goals in six seasons with Kansas City. Only New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored more goals since the start of the 2014 season, scoring 85 times in that stretch.
But Wright-Phillips has also had the luxury of playing with new Orlando City midfielder Sacha Kljestan the past three years. Since returning from a five-year MLS hiatus in 2015, Kljestan has been among the top five in assists in MLS, including leading the league the past two seasons.
Dwyer will now have one of the league’s best passers on his side, but this isn’t the first time the two have been teammates. Dwyer said he and Kljestan have teamed up in California for offseason training.
“Me and Bradley are good friends. We chat every now and then,” Dwyer said. “So, I always watch Sacha, and, you know, I see their games. So, I know Sacha’s a player. We’ve played together a couple offseasons out in California, so we’re not new to each other; that’s for sure.”
After training Wednesday, City will depart for Jacksonville for a 10-day trip that will conclude with the team’s first preseason match against Jacksonville University.
For more on Orlando City, as Dwyer returns to full fitness, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.
