ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City defender Aurelien Collin will miss Sunday's game against the Galaxy (5 pm ET, ESPN2), but it doesn't appear he'll be out for long.
Collin exited Wednesday's 2-1 road defeat against D.C. United in the 64th minute after suffering a hamstring injury while tracking back on defense. Head coach Adrian Heath told MLSsoccer.com that Collin’s injury appears minor, and said he was hopeful the rugged center back would be available for selection on May 24 in San Jose.
Orlando City currently have four central defenders on the roster besides Collin, but Seb Hines, Conor Donovan (U-20 World Cup), and Tommy Redding (knee injury) were all ruled out vs. DC on Wednesday. After Collin went down, Heath was forced to insert young right back Tyler Turner at the center-back position next to Sean St. Ledger. D.C. United scored two goals after Collin’s injury and won the game, 2-1.
Heath could go back to Turner against LA, but he said another option in the center of defense is Amobi Okugo, a midfielder by trade but who previously played the position from time to time for Philadelphia.
Asked about the possibility of playing center back in this weekend's Soccer Sunday clash, Okugo expressed confidence in his ability.
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“I’ve played there sparingly all my life with Philly or the youth national teams," he said. "With Collin going out, which is a big injury, and still not knowing if Seb [Hines] is fit, if I need to step up and play in the [back], I will do it for the team. We need a lot players to step up.”
If Okugo slides back to center back, Darwin Ceren and Cristian Higuita – who hopes to be fit after suffering an injury of his own on Wednesday -- are the likely candidates to take dual defensive midfield roles.
