For anyone, 434 days is a long time. For FC Dallas Homegrown midfielder Paxton Pomykal, it may have felt like an eternity as he recovered from another knee injury that set his career back.
If you’ve followed Pomykal’s career with FC Dallas at all, one thing that likely sticks out when you view his history: injuries.
Since turning pro nearly a decade ago as a 16-year old, the Lewisville native has struggled with injuries. He's finished multiple seasons on the injury list with the biggest coming at the beginning of the 2024 season. Pomykal missed part of the preseason as he was dealing with some issues with his knee. He managed to get back into the rotation once the season began and made a six-minute appearance off the bench in a Matchday Two game against CF Montreal.
That six minutes would be his only action for the 2024 season, as his knee injury was still causing him issues and would require additional surgery.
After a year away from the game in recovery, Pomykal found himself back with FC Dallas at the beginning of the 2025 preseason. Throughout the preseason, Pomykal was still on the side doing his recovery drills up until the last month when he joined the first team training.
On Saturday night against Real Salt Lake, the recovery was complete as he stepped onto the field in the second half for the final few minutes of the match.
Looking for more FC Dallas content? Subscribe today to get our posts directly in your inbox as we publish them.
"I got chills hearing and seeing the support from the fans, it had been so long that you wonder when the time will ever come," said Pomykal following the match. "I felt good, it has definitely been 434 days, obviously the first game back I have something to build on and get a little sharper, and contribute more to the team.”
The road to recovery wasn't always easy. But the payoff for Pomykal was special on Saturday night.
Both the fans and players would have liked a storybook ending for Pomykal's return. The 1-1 draw left a lot to be desired as FC Dallas had to claw their way back in the second half to secure a draw at home after giving up a goal in the first half.
"I told myself when I had surgery, the first game back, that I wouldn’t be mad after the game. So with regards to the result, here I’m mad that we tied," said Pomykal.
FC Dallas manager Eric Quill has been hoping to get Pomykal back in his rotation, as he’s seen how important the Homegrown has been for the club in training lately.
“Having Paxton back has been amazing, he’s raised the level of play in our training,” said Quill. “To see him back on the grass and in front of the fans was truly special.”
Quill will need more of Pomykal as the season picks up steam in a busy month of May that will see the club have multiple double-game weeks in the final two weeks of the month.
"Just in ten minutes you can see his quality," said FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake. "Imagine what you'll see when he starts to get more minutes under his belt. It is going to make us a different team. It did in the short time tonight. We can move opponents around and get into some good spots."
This story is available for free to everyone, no subscription required. If you’d like to support us but don’t want to commit to a full subscription, you can leave us a tip of any amount (this helps keep our coffee/beer mugs full).
Comments