Curtin: Plan for Przybylko ‘fully involves him starting’

Philadelphia Union leading goal-scorer Kacper Przybylko is expected to be back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s playoff game against the New York Red Bulls.

“There’s a plan in place for him — he was out on the field doing things on the side today — and that fully involves him starting on Sunday,” Curtin said during his weekly press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “Everything has gone according to plan so far; there’s been no setbacks, been no surprises.”

Przybylko had 15 goals to lead the team in 2019 but was a late scratch from the lineup in the season finale against New York City FC after injuring his foot in the pregame warm-up. He came up one goal short of matching CJ Sapong’s franchise record 16 goals in 2017.

The 26-year-old forward, a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year, battled foot injuries for two seasons in Germany before arriving in Chester last fall. He missed a month in the early part of this season after fracturing his toe playing for Bethlehem Steel FC.

Captain Alejandro Bedoya has returned to full training after missing the finale with a quad injury he picked up in the Columbus Crew game and is expected to be ready to go for Sunday. Sergio Santos has also been back in training and will be ready for selection.