Kacper Przybylko has shown his class for the Philadelphia Union with 15 goals in a breakthrough 2019 and four more this season, including a brace in a 4-1 victory over D.C. United over the weekend that led to him being voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Weeks 7 and 8 of the 2020 MLS season.
But the Union’s depth at striker is relatively thin. Sergio Santos starts alongside Przybylko in Jim Curtin’s preferred 4-3-1-2 formation, but after those two seasoned strikers, and veteran Andrew Wooten, there’s a combination of youth and guys playing out of position.
That makes it especially frustrating for Curtin that Cory Burke’s status is in unchanged limbo.
The Jamaican international had to leave the United States due to a visa issue last May. Unable to return to the club, the Union loaned the 28-year-old to Austrian club SKN St Polten.
At the time, he was Philadelphia’s leading scorer.
“We certainly miss Cory. I would love to have the option of Cory. I wish he was here from the beginning of the year like we had hoped,” Curtin said after the Union’s 1-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC Wednesday. "But, these things are out of our hands. It’s at the point where we're waiting. It’s a ridiculous situation. I wish I had answers and had control and could help, but certainly Cory adds instantly to our depth and gives us a really dangerous weapon.”
Reportedly, the wait might be coming to an end. Simon Preston of RJR Gleaner Group tweeted Burke is expected to be back as soon as this week, pending visa approval.
With matches coming every three days, that would be music to Curtin’s ears.
“Certainly I hope we do get Cory back soon and that could really strengthen our attack right away,” Curtin said.
