FRISCO -- With star playmaker Mauro Diaz out for the first half of the season, FC Dallas moved in the offseason to find a replacement.

The team signed MLS veteran Javier Morales but already had another option in its ranks.

Kellyn Acosta is a homegrown player who played in 32 games in 2016 and has seen playing time in at least a dozen games every season since he joined the first team in 2013. It was no secret he was going to contribute.

What was, perhaps, unexpected was how much the 21-year-old would improve his offensive production.

Acosta has four goals in five matches in 2017. The combination of defending and scoring ability helped earn Acosta a recall to the U.S. national team. He'll join up with coach Bruce Arena's team after Saturday's game against the New England Revolution.

"I think he's a phenomenal player. I think America has a fantastic midfielder there," FCD coach Oscar Pareja said. "I know Kellyn enough to say that he will keep his feet on the ground, knowing that journey is very long. I hope for him just to continue helping the team and helping himself with these kinds of performances."

Acosta doesn't play the same position as Diaz, a traditional No. 10 who stays forward and is tasked mostly with creating chances for other players. But, combined with the club's addition of forward Cristian Colman, FCD is able to play without a No. 10, playing two forwards instead of just one and asking Acosta to venture forward more and join the attack.

The other area that has improved is his free-kick taking. Acosta said he worked during the offseason on scoring from dead-ball situations, spending hours on the pitch and putting the ball in from various spots around the 18-yard box.

The Plano native made light of two poor corner kicks in the first half of a CONCACAF Champions League semifinal against Pachuca, errant passes long forgotten after his free-kick goal gave FCD a 2-1 win Wednesday.

"Even last year, Mauro, me and him kind of went back and forth with free kicks and corner kicks. Without him there, I'm the guy that needs to step up and hit 'em," Acosta said. "My corner kicks definitely need some work, as you can see, but I'm glad I could help out my team with the free kick and put that in."

Partnering with Carlos Gruezo in the center of midfield also helps Acosta join the attack more often in the run of play. The hard-nosed Ecuadorian is one of the best midfielders in North America at recovering the ball when possession is lost, giving Acosta more of a license to take risks without having to worry about darting back to cover a play if an FCD attack breaks down.

The more well-rounded game helped him earn the national team call-up but also will serve FCD this season as it tried to match and improve on a 2016 season that included two trophy wins. For Acosta's teammate Walker Zimmerman, who also earned a national team call-up, some of the improvement has come from Acosta having more confidence in his own ability.

"I think he's being a little bit more aggressive, trusting his shot a little bit more. He's proving to himself, I think, that he can do it and he can make these kinds of finishes that are difficult from the top of the box, outside the box," the center back said. "For him, I'm excited to watch him and looking forward to competing with him on the national team as well."

After playing a full half against Sporting Kansas City on March 11, a hard-fought 90 minutes against Pachuca on Wednesday and with national team matches looming, Acosta may not start Saturday's home opener. But he will be a fixture at Toyota Stadium this season, all over the field.