Leon Flach to have potential season ending surgery

Following his first-half exit in the Union’s midweek match against Toronto, midfielder Leon Flach may be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an aggravation of his ongoing hernia injury.

A rough Wednesday night showing from the Boys in Blue went from bad to worse when Leon Flach went down in the 33rd minute. Head coach Jim Curtin took no chances, replacing the 22-year-old midfielder with homegrown Jack McGlynn. Flach was nursing a recurring hernia injury for the duration of the season, battling to continue to put in quality minutes for the club, but the pain became too much in the U’s trip up north. Curtin spoke on Flach’s status:

“The pain got to a point in that game where it was just unbearable for him… the likelihood is that it will need surgery to repair.”

Curtin shared some cautious optimism. While emphasizing the notion of quickly moving on Flach’s diagnosis, the Union manager spoke of a relatively speedy recovery, saying, “The hope will be to have him back by the playoffs.”

But in this jam-packed season, the U’s focus moves to Sunday, where the rival New York Red Bulls travel to Chester for the second time in a month. The task will be tall for the Boys in Blue, as they must answer their drop to fourth in the Eastern Conference short-staffed. Flach’s knock and card suspensions for midfielders Jose Martinez and Jesus Bueno leave the Union without a six as they return home.

However, Curtin has options. An easy swap to the 3-5-2 would see Damion Lowe accompanying Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes on the back line. Also, Curtin addressed the possibility of Elliott moving to the holding mid position. Jack has made this swap before, and while it is not an ideal situation for the Union, it would allow the club to continue their diamond midfielder in the 4-4-2.

Given the absence of essential midfield pieces, the spotlight will shine on young talent. This is a prime opportunity for Jack McGlynn to showcase that he can control a game from the midfield. With a possible move to the five-back, one less midfielder will require McGlynn to continue to do what he does best: control play with the ball at his feet and distribute to the flanks where the wing-backs can work up the pitch.

Curtin also announced that the healthy players on the squad are all fit, meaning that captain Alejandro Bedoya will most likely see more minutes in Sunday night’s Eastern Conference showdown.

With a chance to continue the U’s unbeaten streak against Red Bull and crucial conference points on the line, Philly’s next-man-up mentality will be put to its biggest test yet.