Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljić heads into El Trafico eager to get back on scoring pace

Galaxy star Dejan Joveljić finally returned to action Sept. 1 as a second-half substitute.

The appearance was his first since July 7 after suffering a hamstring injury.

“I missed a lot of goals, probably” he said jokingly Thursday.

Prior to his extended absence, Joveljić was on pace for a big season with 12 goals in 21 games.

“Hopefully, when I score my next goal, I’m going to have more confidence,” he said. “Every day I have more and more confidence.”

Injuries have been the only way to slow Joveljić this season. He missed two games earlier this season with a quad injury. Then came the hamstring injury that put him on the shelf for seven games.

“I think I had an amazing start,” the Serbian forward said. “Unfortunately after five games, maybe six, I missed two games and then I needed some time to come back and unfortunately against Minnesota (July 7) I felt something in my hamstring. Now I’m back and I’m going to play more. I didn’t expect that I would miss six (MLS) games because never in my life and in my time with L.A. Galaxy, I didn’t miss any game.

“I hope this is the last time I’m going to skip games.”

His return comes at an important time with the Galaxy going into the final El Trafico clash with rival LAFC without Joseph Paintsil (eight goals, seven assists). Paintsil will miss the game due to yellow-card accumulation after picking up a card Sept. 1.

Joveljić, who has scored four goals against LAFC, is likely to see more minutes than he did in the last game before international break.

“He’s ready for whatever role we present to him,” Vanney said of Joveljić.

Joveljić, 25, recently entered the Galaxy record books, becoming the 33rd player in club history to reach 100 career league appearances. He arrived late in the 2021 season and made 14 appearances, followed by 32 in both 2022 and 2023 and 22 so far heading into Saturday.

“It’s amazing, 100 games in MLS is a lot, even though I didn’t play every game from the beginning,” he said. “I’m happy to reach this amazing achievement, especially in this club and hopefully I will have many more.”

His 101st will be Saturday as the Galaxy look to avoid being swept in the regular-season series against LAFC. The Galaxy have lost the previous two meetings by the same 2-1 score. The Galaxy enters this clash in first place in the Western Conference, four points ahead of LAFC.

“I’ve faced them a lot of times,” Joveljić said. “They’ve had some decent results the last couple of seasons …This game is, let’s say, a final before the final. This game is going to show where we are at and hopefully we get the three points.”

Joveljić said he is to blame for the first injury, due to a knee slide after scoring. The next goal he scores, he promises not to do that.