Curtin: Union will be missing up to nine players against Orlando City SC

As if the Philadelphia Union didn’t already have to use their depth enough, the team will be facing increased challenges with the international break.

The Union, which faces Orlando City SC on March 25, will be without as many as eight or nine players, head coach Jim Curtin revealed on Thursday.

The Union’s match against the Lions comes during international play around the world, and while most major soccer leagues won’t hold matches, Major League Soccer will have a full slate of games.

While the official names of absentees for the Union have not been announced, a few assumptions can be made. Andre Blake, who suffered an injury against Chicago Fire FC, will either be absent due to injury or on international duty with Jamaica.

Other players, such as Daniel Gazdag (Hungary), Damion Lowe (Jamaica), Olivier Mbaizo (Cameroon) and Jose Martinez (Venezuela) are presumed call-ups. Quinn Sullivan, Jack McGlynn and Brandan Craig are also likely selections for the US U-20 team.

With these eight players missing, Curtin will have holes to fill on both his starting lineup and his bench. Four of those names – Gazdag, Mbaizo, Martinez and Blake –  are consistent starters.