New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir is not expected to miss an abundance of time after suffering a hamstring injury last week, a source told amNewYork on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Belgian missed New York’s home-opening 2-1 victory on Saturday night over FC Dallas after initially being considered questionable on the morning of the match.
There is hope that he can be available for the starting lineup for this upcoming Saturday’s clash against at the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew.
Vanzeir started each of the first two Red Bulls’ games this season, lining up top alongside Elias Manoel. He provided an assist on the Brazilian’s headed goal during their 2-1 victory on March 2, over the Houston Dynamo.
Now in his second season with New York after making the jump from Union SG in the Belgian first division, Vanzeir is trying to capitalize on the open opportunity to become the type of No. 9 forward that the Red Bulls have lacked in recent seasons. He struggled to run away with that role last season, recording just two goals and an assist in 19 league appearances (eight starts) which was marred by a six-game suspension for using racist language in an April match against the San Jose Earthquakes — an incident in which he claimed was a mix-up of the new language he was learning — and a back injury.
In his absence, the Red Bulls lined up with Manoel alone up top — which head coach Sandro Schwarz also said was fueled by FC Dallas playing with three at the back — and a three-man attacking midfield unit of Lewis Morgan on the left, Emil Forsberg in the middle, and Peter Stroud on the right.
Cory Burke, who came on as a sub in the final minutes of Saturday’s home opener as he recovers from a groin injury, could factor into New York’s forward equation more if Vanzeir does miss more time than expected.
