Andre Blake out 4-6 weeks after minor knee surgery

Andre Blake is expected to miss at least another month and his participation in the upcoming Copa America is also in question after the star goalkeeper had surgery to clean up a meniscus tear.

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin said Blake will miss 4-6 weeks recovering from the surgery, which he characterized as “minor.”

“It’ll be touch and go for him there,” Curtin said of Copa America. “It’s a competition that we knew we’d be missing Andre with us; unfortunately we missed him a little bit earlier than we’d hoped but most importantly now it’s to get him healed up 100 percent to where he’s in his best form.”

Jamaica begins Copa America group play against Mexico on June 22 in Houston and has group games against Ecuador in Las Vegas scheduled for June 26 and Venezuela in Austin on June 30.

Union center back Damion Lowe is expected to be part of the Reggae Boyz squad and is one of several players the Union will be missing during summer competitions here and abroad.

Blake’s absence will put additional weight on the shoulders of Oliver Semmle, who has performed well in Blake’s absence, playing already significantly more than was expected when he was brought in from Louisville City in the offseason.