This was not supposed to be Uriel Antuna's time yet. 

The young winger, currently plying his trade at the LA Galaxy, was part of the 29-man preliminary roster named by Gerardo Martino for Mexico in the Gold Cup. But Antuna, who is currently under contract with English giants Manchester City, did not make the final 23-man squad despite making his international debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Venezuela. 

Antuna then started in the next friendly against Ecuador, after Club America defender Jorge Sanchez picked up an injury in the Venezuela game. It might have been a bit confusing as to why crucial game minutes were going to a player that wasn't named to the Gold Cup squad, but Tata had already signaled that Antuna would be the replacement if Sanchez was too injured to play in the Concacaf tournament.

Sanchez was eventually ruled out, and Antuna, who was not originally named to the squad, starting Mexico's opening game against Cuba. And went on to score a hat trick in just his third cap with El Tri, helping Mexico ease to a 7-0 win.

"I am very happy with the opportunity that coach Gerardo Martino is giving me," Antuna told Concacaf after the game. "I am very happy I was able to score, but the team played a great game, so I am very happy to be here."

Antuna went on to start the final two games for Mexico during group play, against Canada and Martinique. Antuna's goal against Martinique helped El Tri to a perfect record of three wins in group play. Antuna's tally of four goals trails Canada's Jonathan David's five goals heading into the knockout stage. And for his performances, Antuna was named to the Best Eleven for group stage play.

Aquí está el once ideal de la fase de grupos de #GoldCup2019 ⚽#EstoEsNuestro #ThisIsOurs pic.twitter.com/qPX3MuAICm

— Gold Cup 2019 (@GoldCup) June 27, 2019

The 21-year-old wouldn't have even had an opportunity like this if not for numerous absences from the Mexican squad to begin with. Carlos Vela, who plays for the other team in Los Angeles and is currently far and away the best player in MLS, asked Martino to not be part of the national team this year. Jesus Corona either decided not to join up with El Tri this summer or has an ankle injury, depending on which story you read.

Javier Hernandez stayed away as well, anticipating the birth of a child. Hirving Lozano, linked to some of the biggest clubs in the world, is out injured. 

That left an opening for Antuna, who moved away from Mexican club Santos Laguna to Manchester City in July 2017. Having only made one Liga MX appearance for Santos Laguna, City were buying the then 19-year-old without any immediate plans of playing him in the Premier League.

A month after signing with City, Antuna was sent on loan to Dutch side FC Groningen on a two-year deal. However, the winger didn't have the best of times with Groningen, splitting time with the first team and Jong FC Groningen, the youth side that plays in the fourth division in the Netherlands. That led to Antuna's loan being cut short in January, shortly before moving closer to home with a loan deal with the Galaxy. 

Playing under Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Antuna got his MLS career off to a good start. Before leaving to join up with Mexico, Antuna started in all 16 games for the Galaxy, scoring two goals and adding two assists. There is still plenty of learning yet to do for Antuna, but clearly, playing alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jonathan Dos Santos has helped the youngster confidently line up in Mexico's starting 11. 

Antuna's goals haven't come against the toughest of competition, but the Galaxy winger should get another chance to impress on Saturday when Mexico take on Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. Having seemingly already earned the trust of Tata, Antuna seems poised to start once again for Mexico, hoping to provide a threat from the right wing once again.

A couple more good performances — and maybe even lifting some hardware at the end of the tournament — might help Antuna turn his surprise inclusion with the Mexican national team into a more permanent fixture in the future under Martino.