FRISCO, Texas – Two of FC Dallas’ most dangerous attacking players, Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz, are currently working their way back from injuries at a key time for the club, but they are taking different paths to the field.
Castillo suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the Sept. 13 match against Vancouver and has missed two games, but he is expected to be back in action soon with FCD facing a Saturday away matchup with the Vancouver Whitecaps (7 pm ET; MLS Live).
Diaz, on the other hand, is currently in Argentina on instructions from FC Dallas. It is perhaps a surprising move, but one that head coach Oscar Pareja believes will help get FCD’s one-time midfield maestro back on the field sooner rather than later.
“We sent him to Argentina,” Pareja said. “We want to have him close to his family for the week, and also we have connections with some rehab people there. It’s the best scenario for Mauro, get a little bit refreshed there with his family, but at the same time work with a group of people who are connected with ours."
“It’s been frustrating for him, being in the nursery for so long,” Pareja added, referring to the FC Dallas training regimen to return players to full fitness.
Pareja said it is a short-term trip.
“Probably at the end of next week,” Pareja said of his planned return. “I think it is a good idea for him.”
As for Castillo, Pareja said the Colombian winger is close to returning to the field.
“Today he is pain-free,” Pareja said.
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Castillo had been one of the hottest players for FC Dallas during their return to prominence in the Western Conference with their run from June to August, and his absence had been noticed. The potential for a more permanent absence reared its head last week as rumors of interest from Mexican giant Club America surfaced, but Pareja is confident that Castillo is focused on his MLS club.
“It’s not the first time a big club is interested in Fabian,” said Pareja, who played a role in the young Colombian coming to FC Dallas in 2011. “Fabian is used to it since he was very young. When he was competing in the national team when he was 16, everybody was talking about Europe and Italy. There were clubs that went to Colombia to scout him. And he went to the U-20s and it was the same, so I don’t think that was something that affected him.
“His mind is here, he is committed with the club, he is under a long contract with us, he is happy here.”
