FRISCO, Texas — FC Dallas are expecting a much-improved Moises Hernandez when the 20-year-old returns from Guatemala at the end of 2012. That was the motivation behind loaning the Homegrown defender to Guatemalan side CSD Comunicaciones, according to Schellas Hyndman.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to put him in a good league, on a good team, to give him more playing time and build his confidence,” the FC Dallas head coach explained of the loan move, announced on Wednesday. “I’m anticipating a much better player for FC Dallas when he comes back next year.”
Hernandez, signed back in July 2010 at the same time as Ruben Luna and Victor Ulloa, has struggled to break into the FC Dallas lineup at his left back position and heads to Guatemala looking to gain some much needed playing time. The Dallas native has been with the FCD organization since joining the original US Soccer Development Academy squad in 2008, though he made his first and only competitive first-team appearance in the 2-0 US Open Cup loss to the Charlotte Eagles last month.
He moves to Guatemala, the birth country of his father, on a six-month loan deal expected to grow him not only as a player, but as a person as well.
“It’s also about going into an environment where he doesn’t have his buddies around him, and when he makes a mistake, the only voice he hears is the coach,” said Hyndman. “I think there, it’s going to be a little bit more pressure and he’s either going to be able to cope with it or not. But it’s definitely a learning opportunity.”
There will, however, be one familiar face present when Hernandez arrives in Guatemala – he will team up with former Dallas goal-getter Jeff Cunningham, who joined Comunicaciones at the start of this year.
On the mend
Hyndman noted after Wednesday’s practice that the return of players like David Ferreira and Brek Shea not only affects the starting 11, but trickles down through the whole squad.
“I think with David and Brek, what you really do is get your better players on the field,” Hyndman told MLSsoccer.com. “And you get the guys who aren’t your day-to-day starters more quality time instead of just go as long as you can and 45 minutes into the game you’re thinking you have to get them off.”
Three-game homestand
FC Dallas begin a three-game, three-week homestand on Saturday night against Chivas USA before facing Toronto FC on July 4 and San Jose on July 7. For a side that sits tied for last place in the Western Conference, six points behind Colorado in the race for the final MLS Cup Playoffs spot out of the West, these are three games in which Dallas must produce points if they have any thoughts of postseason play.
“It’s huge,” said Hyndman on the upcoming home games. “We can really put ourselves in a good position if we can find results here. I think what we’re looking for is something good.”
