The Crew will once again be without multiple players, including two goalkeepers, due to call-ups during a FIFA international window.
The October window runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 15, during which the Crew have one game, Saturday’s match against the New England Revolution, scheduled.
The Crew have five players called up for international duty: goalkeepers Patrick Schulte (United States), Nicholas Hagen (Guatemala), forward Cucho Hernandez (Colombia), midfielder Mo Farsi (Alegria) and Taha Habroune (U.S. U-20).
“The feeling is great, always, to be there,” Hernandez said. “To have the opportunity to be there with great players and representing my country. My country is the best nation in the world, and I (am) proud to do this because I work every day for this.”
In September, which was the last time the FIFA window was open, the Crew had to play a game without a backup goalkeeper. The same could be the case on Saturday.
Columbus has Abraham Romero available for Saturday, but it is unclear whether Evan Bush will be ready to return after six months sidelined with a broken arm. The Crew declined to put Bush on the season-ending injury list, despite the long-term nature of his absence, because coach Wilfried Nancy said the hope has been to have Bush back before the season is over.
The New England game is the second of two games that the Crew rescheduled to accommodate the CONCACAF Champions Cup final on June 1. This game was originally supposed to be played on May 29 at Lower.com Field.
Crew defender Steven Moreira was left off the Cape Verde national team roster for October, despite being regularly called up for international play.
Moreira’s absence is linked to the ankle injury he’s currently dealing with. The Crew worked with Cape Verde’s national team to determine what would be best for Moreira.
Last Wednesday, Moreira was hurt in the Crew’s 3-2 loss to Inter Miami, and he was unavailable for Columbus’ game against Philadelphia on Saturday.
“When he (Moreira) did a tackle against Miami, he felt something in his ankle,” Nancy said following the team’s 3-2 win against the Union. “He could have played, but he was not ready or at 100%. That’s why I decided to put him on the side.”
bmackay@dispatch.com
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