Four games into the 2017 season, Houston Dynamo midfielder Alex Lima has already set a new career high for assists in a season. As a matter of fact, his four assists – tied for the league league – equal the number he tallied in his 121 previous MLS games.

“I am working better under [head coach Wilmer Cabrera],” Alex said. “The expectations to have a good year are very high, very important to me for the age that I have, 28 years old, and I think that this year will be a good one for me.”

The 2016 Dynamo MVP and Player’s Player of the Year is in his third season with Houston after joining via trade from the Chicago Fire midway through the 2015 season. The move to the Space City gave new life to the career of the São Paulo native. With the Fire, Lima started in just over 63 percent of the matches he played in. That number has increased to over 85 percent with the Dynamo, and it looks like Alex has found stability and the freedom to play under Cabrera.

“Alex speaks on the field,” Cabrera said. “Alex works tirelessly and his technique, his quality of play is one of the best, for me, in the MLS. We are very happy that he feels good, that he is adapting to the system of play in the tactical part and that he is producing, providing the assists that we need.”

Alex’s goal tally is also up since joining the Dynamo, scoring a career-best five goals in the 2016 season. This season, however, setting up the goals has taken priority and the Brazilian isn’t bothered by taking a backseat in the scoring department.

“It’s very important to be among the top in assists in the league," concluded Alex, "I’m very happy and it’s about now it’s about continuity, with goals and assists, because MLS has many games left."

The next of those games is this Saturday on the road this Saturday against the New England Revolution (1 p.m. CT; , where Alex and Co. look to continue their hot streak in search of their first away points of the season.