Alejandro Bedoya: Jim Curtin confirms Philadelphia Union captain is fit for NYCFC clash
By Chris Smith
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has confirmed captain Alejandro Bedoya will play a 'big role' in the club's Eastern Conference Final clash with NYCFC on Sunday.
The 35-year-old midfielder missed the 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati in the previous round with a hip injury but his absence was understood to be a precaution to avoid complications.
Curtin's side face their toughest test yet as they welcome the defending champions to Subaru Park, with NYCFC enjoying a six-game winning streak across all competitions.
The Union will need all the help and leadership they can muster and while Curtin didn't specifically state how many minutes Bedoya could play, he did confirm the former USMNT midfielder will be available.
“I think it's pretty safe to say, whether as a starter or off the bench, he'll play a role and a big one in this game because he's our captain, he's our leader and we need him,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Curtin also confirmed that Bedoya took part in a full training session on Thursday and that staff will continue to increase the intensity for the veteran midfielder over the next couple of days leading up to Sunday's match.
“Obviously, we have two more sessions going in, so a little bit of a longer week,” Curtin added. “We're able to kind of ease him into the week. He's pushed himself very hard and worked very hard, doesn't have a ton of discomfort as of right now.
“So again, we'll see how he responds. In today's full session, which was a transition day, so a high-intensity session, he had no issues reported so far.”
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