CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake feels completely healthy and ready to man the net after undergoing knee surgery in February.
Unfortunately for him, his coaches think otherwise, meaning the former No. 1-overall pick will likely remain the backup behind John McCarthy for Saturday’s home game against Toronto FC (4 pm ET; TSN4).
“I don’t want to throw him out there until he’s 100 percent and ready to go,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. “And right now, I don’t see that.”
The Union’s goalkeeping situation has been in flux for much of the season with two-time World Cup veteran Rais Mbolhi getting benched earlier this month and McCarthy replacing him.
McCarthy, a Philly native and 2014 USL Goalkeeper of the Year, led his hometown club to four points in his first two MLS games. But the Union have since dropped two straight and given up six goals in that stretch, including an ugly 4-1 loss to Columbus on Saturday.
Still, even though McCarthy didn’t make a save against the Crew, Curtin defended his performance, pointing instead to the field players for putting the young goalie in tough spots.
Blake, meanwhile, has been preparing to get the call in net ever since Mbolhi was sent packing, but he understands the cautious approach that comes along with recovering from a knee injury.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Blake said. “Step by step, day by day, I’m feeling much better. … But until the coaches think I’m ready, I’m not gonna get in. It doesn’t really matter what I think. I’ll just make sure I’m ready whenever my number is called.”
Blake admitted that the “toughest part” of coming off surgery is getting his reaction time back. He also said watching the last few games from the bench has been difficult but that “you can’t let that overcome you because then whenever you get your turn you’re going to fail.”
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This much seems certain: Blake will eventually get his chance.
And although the 24-year-old Jamaican has only played one league game since the Union traded up for him last January to make him the first goalkeeper selected No. 1 in the draft, he remains a highly touted prospect in the organization.
“There is a plan with Andre and it’s a long-term one,” Curtin said. “You don’t want to throw him into a game now where he might not be ready, something goes wrong, and we’re going back to John – and then the confidence in both goalkeepers is at a low. You have to handle it the right way. I know the pressure of the No. 1 pick and the fans and a lot of people want to see him out there – I understand that. But I still want to do what’s right for Andre and what’s right for Philadelphia.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
