CHESTER — Just as the Philadelphia Union lose two more players to international duty, its injury crisis has abated slightly.
Jesus Bueno and Mikael Uhre both returned to training with an eye toward Saturday’s visit to Toronto. Andre Blake is also training for the first time since knee surgery in late May, but his status remains up in the air.
It’s great timing, since Jack McGlynn and Nathan Harriel are off to join the U.S. Olympic Team. The Union (4-9-9, 21 points) have three games next week, which brings them to the Leagues Cup break, at which point just nine league games remain. Mired in 14th place in the East and with one win since the end of March, the Union are in desperate need of points.
Uhre, the leader of the line after Julian Carranza’s departure, has missed the last five games with a groin issue. He’s second on the team with six goals.
Bueno picked up an ankle knock in Chicago last Wednesday and was feared be facing an extended spell on the shelf. But an MRI showed no structural damage. After missing Saturday’s 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls, he is training fully.
Alejandro Bedoya returned from a four-game absence with a quad injury to log 21 minutes against the Red Bulls. His role can expand, manager Jim Curtin said.
Blake’s remains uncertain. He worked for part of practice Thursday, though he did the least of the four goalies. He’s six weeks removed from meniscus surgery, which carried a four-to-six-week absence.
“Andre trained today with the team which is a positive,” Curtin said. “We still will have a meeting with him after this and see exactly where he’s at. Still one more training session and then we’ll make an assessment there.”
Blake has made just four starts in the league and, thanks to a quad injury and a concussion, has gone the full 90 just twice in MLS play in 2024.
The Union have struggled mightily in his absence.
They allowed 18 goals in a six-game stretch before 18-year-old Homegrown Andrew Rick made five saves to keep a clean sheet against Red Bulls. While that stopped the bleeding and has made Rick the clear No. 2 over Oliver Semmle, Curtin is equally clear that Blake will play as soon as able.
“We’re at our best when Andre is back,” Curtin said. “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.”
The Union hope Jose Martinez will be back in town Friday after Venezuela was eliminated from Copa America last Friday on penalty kicks by Canada. Martinez played every minute for Venezuela before being subbed just before PKs of the quarterfinal. He would be available only as a sub.
Curtin went with a 3-5-2 formation against Red Bulls, in part because of a dearth of midfielders. He’ll have more options this week, though that formation might get his best 11 players on the field against fellow stragglers Toronto (7-11-3, 24 points).
A more pressing issue is depth at outside back.
Since Matt Real’s loan, the Union have survived with just three for two positions. Harriel’s absence leaves no cover behind Kai Wagner and Olivier Mbaizo, the latter of whom will step in at right back. Among the less-than-ideal possibilities if a deputy is needed is Bedoya or Quinn Sullivan on the right or Leon Flach on the left, likely in a five-back.
“Olivier will come in and give us some good performances, I know that,” Curtin said. “He’s been waiting to do so and I think will step up in a big way. Kai has been kind of an ironman at left back through the years. If there is an emergency or an injury, then we’ve discussed things, whether you’re up a goal, whether you’re down a goal, some different things that we could do in their absence.”
Source: Berkshire mont