Medunjanin, Onyewu, impressive in Union preseason
Union coach Jim Curtin has been happy with new addition Haris Medunjanin, the midfielder who has 55 caps for the Bosnian national team.
Union coach Jim Curtin has been happy with new addition Haris Medunjanin, the midfielder who has 55 caps for the Bosnian national team.
Medunjanin, 31, played in Wednesday's scrimmage against Orlando and was impressive pairing with Alejandro Bedoya in the midfield, according to Curtin.
"They fed off each other and had a good partnership," Curtin said during Thursday's conference call from Clearwater, where the Union are spending most of February training.
Medunjanin was playing a defensive midfield but with a twist.
"He is an offensive No. 6, which sounds crazy," Curtin said, referring to the No. 6 position that is usually a defensive midfielder.
Curtin also said veteran Oguchi Onyewu has separated himself from the competition and is starting at center back with Richie Marquez.
Onyewu, who turns 35 in May, has earned 69 caps with the U.S. national team but hasn't played in a regular-season game in more than two years.
On the injury front, midfielder Maurice Edu, still recovering from a broken left fibula suffered on Oct. 22, remains in Philadelphia and is receiving daily treatment. Curtin said there is no timetable for his return.
The Union coach said the team is still looking to acquire a No. 3 goalkeeper, but nothing has materialized. Last season's MLS goalkeeper of the year, Andre Blake, is being backed up by John McCarthy. A third keeper is important when Blake has to leave at times to compete for Jamaica's national team.
In other news, midfielder Eric Ayuk has been called up to the under-20 team for Cameroon. Ayuk appeared in just one Major League Soccer game last season for the Union after making 28 appearances and 14 starts in 2015. He has been called up for Cameroon's match in the African under-20 Cup of National on March 2 against Sudan.
Curtin said that forward Chris Nanco, the team's third-round draft choice (No. 55 overall) from Syracuse, has been offered a contract with the Union's United Soccer League affiliate, the Bethlehem Steel.
"He has a bright future, and we hope it is with the Union," Curtin said. "We hope he accepts the contract, and he is deciding that now."
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