New York Red Bulls defender Dylan Nealis will miss between eight and 10 weeks with a hamstring injury, head coach Sandro Schwarz announced on Thursday.
The 26-year-old right back has appeared in eight of New York’s first nine games of the season, starting seven as he continued to cement his role as an integral piece of the back line. The Massapequa native is coming off a 2024 season in which he appeared in a career high 30 games played, 25 games started, 2,331 minutes played, and four assists.
“It’s tough when we got this news that he’s now out for eight to 10 weeks,” Schwarz said. “That’s the situation. He’s a very reliable player for us, but now we have to find a solution.”
That solution could come from changing the Red Bulls’ structure. Schwarz has deployed a back line that has consisted of three center backs and a pair of wing-backs at times this season, but has played with a more traditional four-man back line as of late.
Nealis started Saturday’s 2-1 loss to DC United before suffering his injury and departing after just 37 minutes. Serge Ngoma, who is more of a winger, replaced him.
The Red Bulls do boast more depth at the center-back position, which could lead Schwarz to change his tactics. Sean Nealis, Alexander Hack, Noah Eile, and Tim Parker are capable of starting, while Ngoma, Omar Valencia, and Raheem Edwards can play more of that wing-back role.
Should Schwarz wish to continue playing with a traditional four-man back line, though, the return of Kyle Duncan will help ease the loss of Nealis. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since September of last year after suffering a knee injury that required surgery.
“[Nealis] is a very, very important part of game, but we have to compensate that,” Hack said on Thursday. “We have other good players on the field and they will give everything they can… They will integrate very fast.”
The Red Bulls, who have dropped points in three of their last four matches, host Montreal on Saturday evening at Sports Illustrated Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET).
