Portland Timbers winger Lucas Melano and defender Vytas are out with injuries and won't travel with the team on its two-game road swing with games on Saturday and next Tuesday.

The Timbers play at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday and from there, they go to El Salvador to take on CD Dragon in CONCACAF Champions League play next Tuesday.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter said that Melano has been dealing with a groin issue and will see a sports hernia specialist in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Vytas, he said, broke a rib in Portland's 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Union last Saturday.

"He's in a lot of pain," Porter said. "He's having a tough time sleeping. He couldn't train (Wednesday)."

Porter said Vytas is meeting with doctors later on Wednesday, but added, "most likely he'll be unavailable for at least the next week."

Then, he added, it "could be longer."

Both injuries are a blow to the Timbers' depth ahead of a tight window of matches, and it's another setback to the consistency the Timbers have been trying to build while managing injury, suspension and absence up and down a roster that has only recently rounded to form with a run of good health and depth.

Melano, a designated player whose flashes of brilliance are tempered with inconsistency, started 26 matches this season but has just three goals. He was on the bench in the Philadelphia match as Darren Mattocks played on the wing and assisted on both Portland scores.

Vytas, a left-side defender, was acquired by the Timbers in mid-July and quickly established himself along the back line and as threat to go forward, scoring his first Portland goal in the 4-2 win against Seattle in late August.

As he has for most of the season, Porter will to plug in options for each spot. Mattocks, who has missed several games as he recovered from injury, has played well on the wing and versatile defenders Jermaine Taylor and Zarek Valentin have logged time on defense.

On the plus side for Porter, Gbenga Arokoyo will travel with the Timbers on this road trip and may see his first minutes with the senior club. Since coming to Portland from Turkey in early August, the Nigerian defender played for T2, but has missed time due to injury. He was in training on Wednesday.

"We will travel him," Porter said. "We'll have him there. We're taking everybody that's healthy."

-- Molly Blue