Alexandru Mitrita's best run of form under Ronny Deila will be cut short on Wednesday and New York City do not yet know if their Designated Player will pull on a sky blue shirt again.
Mitrita, who scored 12 goals last season, had been struggling for form under 2020 coach Deila until NYCFC's past two matches.
A season record of no goals and two assists in his first 10 matches was boosted significantly by back-to-back braces in victories over FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.
But Mitrita is not set to face DC United in midweek as he departs for international duty with Romania.
And reports the 25-year-old had agreed to move to a club in Saudi Arabia emerged on Monday, hardly the news Deila would have hoped for after belatedly giving the player his chance.
"There have been some talks but there is nothing finalized," Deila said. "Right now he is our player."
The coach had been in high spirits after the 3-2 success against Inter when Mitrita inspired victory amid an underwhelming City display.
"Not every game you can outplay the opponent and have full control. Sometimes you have to dig out results," Deila said. "We did that and it was amazing."
With or without Mitrita, NYCFC will have the opportunity for a third straight win when they host dismal DC.
United are bottom of the East and ran into trouble in their previous match against Atlanta United for fielding Russell Canouse, who did not appear on the teamsheet.
"I'm not going to go into who's at fault. I don't know what that does for anyone," said Ben Olsen, who described his team as "fragile" and was waiting to learn of any further action.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York City - Anton Tinnerholm
The right-back has four goals and two assists in his past seven starts, a remarkable record for a defender. NYCFC have a host of attacking options, yet Tinnerholm is arguably their most important player, marauding up and down the flank.
DC United - Ola Kamara
DC have problems all over the pitch, but their form will not improve until they start scoring. Kamara got just his second of the season in a draw with Toronto last month, yet the team have not netted in three matches since. That must change.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- New York City have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three matches against DC, including a scoreless draw in September. The last team to keep a clean sheet in more than three straight matches against United were Seattle Sounders, who did so six straight times from 2011 to 2016.
- NYCFC beat Inter Miami 3-2 on Saturday for their sixth win in 10 matches since the MLS regular season resumed in August (D2 L2). Only Toronto (seven) have recorded more wins than NYCFC in that time.
- DC are winless in six straight matches (D2 L4) including a run of three defeats in a row by a combined 7-0 score. United last lost three straight matches without scoring in May 2017 and have never recorded four consecutive goalless defeats.
- Mitrita followed up his brace against Cincinnati with another two-goal performance on Saturday against Miami. Mitrita is the second NYCFC player to score consecutive braces in MLS after David Villa, who did so twice (October 2016 and July 2015).
- Only Cincinnati (nine times) have failed to score in more matches than New York City and DC United (both seven) this season.