In his Thursday press conference, Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell announced that three faces that weren’t available against Orlando City will be in the mix for the home opener. Nate Harriel, Bruno Damiani, and Indiana Vassilev are all available to play, and should they get in the game, it’d be the latter two’s first minutes as Union players.
"Nate's training in the right direction and you know he's been training with us this week or full go," Carnell said off the top of his press conference. "He's definitely belongs to the available roster this coming weekend."
Speaking on the Union's newest Designated Player, the Union Head Coach said that Damiani arrived back with the team this week from his visa engagement, and is fully back training with the club and eligible for roster as well this coming weekend.
Acquired in the lead of the season opener, Vassilev joined his new Union teammates on Monday and has quickly taken to his new home. That chemistry and knowledge of Carnell's system have the 24-year-old again ready to play as soon as this weekend.
"I've known Indy for a couple of years now, and I know what he brings on the field," Carnell said. "He arrived here like he's been playing with the team for six months already. So he's easily to integrate within a new group, and he's a good player within the philosophy, and he's available, ready to go. So yeah, he's enjoying himself. And like I said, he had a very good preseason for St Louis, and we're happy to have him ahead."
Meanwhile center back Ian Glavinovich was part of the club's matchday roster in Orlando City and came in late as a substitute. The Argentinian that was acquired on loan in December missed a good part of the preseason with a muscle injury.
"We're pushing him as we can, and he's available. It's just tolerance, and there's a couple of maintenance issues there that we're going on with, but he's available and is ready to play this weekend."
