FRISCO, Texas – With international call-ups and nagging injuries decimating the squad, FC Dallas may just barely be able to suit up 18 players for their next match.
Defender Matt Hedges is nursing a hamstring injury and hasn't trained regularly with the team this week, a development that's making the decision to keep fellow defender Walker Zimmerman in Dallas for the summer look like a stroke of genius.
The 22-year-old was invited to join the US U-23 national team at the Toulon Tournament, but after discussing it with FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja, technical director Fernando Clavijo, and the U-23 coaching staff, the ultimate decision was to stay in Frisco.
“It was a hard decision to make, because I’d like for all players to go to their national team. I know how much that represents to them,” Pareja told MLSSoccer.com. “But I think for Walker, it was the best decision for him and the team first. He understands the message. Now he’s proven, and we need him.”
While Zimmerman sat out the team’s 4-0 beatdown at the hands of Sporting Kansas City, he returned to the starting XI in place of a suspended Zach Loyd last week against San Jose, helping contribute to a clean sheet for a second time this season.
The minutes he is logging, including the ones prior to his potential trip to France, are proving beneficial as the team’s defensive depth continues to be depleted with Hedges ailing and Je-Vaughn Watson, Atiba Harris, and Moises Hernandez all leaving for international duty.
“I think the most important thing right now for me is playing time,” Zimmerman told MLSsoccer.com. “So to be able to get playing time here with FC Dallas, the U-23s are OK with that and happy with that. That’s what they want most – guys that are playing.”
Despite the difficulty in turning down the call, for Zimmerman it was more about standing up for his club than it was saying no to his country.
“I wanted to be there. But also, I have the importance to this team, and based on personnel and injuries and people going, it was just like, ‘Hey, for depth purposes, you need to stay,’” Zimmerman said.
“It’s very important for me to represent my country and help that team qualify for the Olympics,” he added. “So it’s a difficult decision because you want to play for both.”
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Pareja has praised Zimmerman’s play so far this year, especially his ability to win aerial challenges. And the young defender is making the most of his opportunities with the various defensive absences this season, making a case to start in central defense every week, even when the entire roster is available.
But even though it took a missed opportunity to reach this point, Zimmerman knows that the decision to keep logging minutes for his club will be beneficial for his future with the US national team.
“Knowing that they’ve had conversations helps me know that it’s not going to hurt my position with the national team by staying. So I trust that,” Zimmerman said. “I trust the coach’s word, and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity I have to play with them.”
