Philadelphia Union will travel to Canada for a Saturday night matchup against Toronto FC. Before the trip Head Coach Jim Curtin met with the media, previewing what’s to come.
Who's in, who's out
After a shorthanded stretch of weeks for the Philadelphia Union, Curtin’s roster is slowly regaining strength with the return of multiple starters. After adding Damion Lowe and Alejandro Bedoya back into the mix on Saturday, the team will welcome another contingent of formerly injured players to the matchday roster for Saturday’s test in Toronto.
“[Jesus] Bueno will be back, [Mikael] Uhre will be back. Bedoya can play a little bit of a bigger role in the game, which is helpful,” Curtin said.
While José Martinez hasn’t joined the group since Venezuela was eliminated from Copa America, Curtin said there’s still a chance the midfielder could return in time for their flight north.
“Jose is still coming back from Venezuela. Hopefully he can make the trip and go with us there to at least help off the bench,” Curtin said.
“We’re getting stronger, but not at full strength. That would be the best way to put it.”
Keeper Chronicles
In more lineup news, the Union could be nearing another chapter in this season’s goalkeeper chronicles, as Andre Blake has returned to training following a months-long recovery from meniscus surgery.
“Andre trained today with the team which was a positive, still have a meeting with him after this to see exactly where he's at. Still one more training session, then we'll make a decision and an assessment there,” Curtin said.
Curtin emphasized the three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year’s importance to the team and their play, unsurprisingly listing him at the top of the depth chart when talking through the team’s keeper corps. As for his second, Curtin named Andrew Rick, who’s first-ever MLS clean sheet helped the team secure a point in their 0-0 draw against New York Red Bulls.
“It's great what Andrew has done and the experience that he's gaining, but if we're going to go anywhere and go on a run, I think you guys all understand that it has to be with our best players on the field, and Andre is one of our best players. If he's ready, he'll play,” Curtin said.
Until Blake’s return, it’s likely Rick will handle the job, meaning he could be in net again on Saturday.
“Andrew has done a great job, worked hard in the academy, got his contract, played some Union II games and got some experience there,” Curtin said.
“He had some good moments in first team games. Had some teachable moments also in the first team games where I think he learned. But goalkeeper is a brutal, cutthroat position, meaning that when you're called upon you have to be ready. It's unlike any other position in that you can make a mistake as a centerback and the striker can miss, but if you make a mistake as a goalkeeper, everybody sees it and everybody remembers it and it's hard that way. So yeah, he's done a good job and will continue to get better,” Curtin said.
Creative solutions
Availability is once again a theme this week, and although there could be some game-changing players returning to the lineup, Saturday’s match will be the team’s first without Nate Harriel and Jack McGlynn, who departed for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday.
The homegrown pair has become stalwart starters for the team, and Curtin and his staff will face a new obstacle in replacing them while they’re away representing the stars and stripes in France.
“We are a little thin at the outside back spot. Nathan gives you that flexibility where he can jump in at center back, can play right back, but Olivier Mbaizo will come in and give us some good performances. I know that he's been waiting to do so, and I think we'll step up in a big way,” Curtin said.
When explaining the contingency plan for an injury at the position, Curtin dropped Bedoya and Sullivan’s names as potential temporary fixes should it come to that point.
“We'll have to be creative and find solutions when there's no perfect one on paper. We've trained for the most part this week with 14 guys, so we have to make do with what we have and find a way to play a guy out of position, protect him a little bit, and give him a chance for success.”
