Columbus Crew trio called up to USMNT, will miss game against Philadelphia Union

Zack Steffen will not get one last game in his hometown stadium before his multi-million dollar transfer to Manchester City this July, after all.

The Downingtown native will miss the game at Talen Energy Stadium on March 23 while away on international duty with the United States Men’s National Team.

Steffen and Crew teammates Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes were both called up by their former head coach, Gregg Berhalter for a pair of friendlies against Ecuador on March 21 at Orlando City Stadium and Chile on March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Training camp opens in Orlando on March 17.

Steffen is one of two players with ties to the Philadelphia area on the 24-player roster with Montreal Impact left back Daniel Lovitz, a Wynmoor, Pa. native being the other.

Steffen, a former FC Delco and West Chester United youth who trained with the Philadelphia Union and won the 2012 Generation adidas Cup with Jim Curtin when he was the U17 coach, will be transferred to the Premier League giants on July 9.

The USMNT is 2-0-0 since Berhalter left the Crew to take the head coaching job in December.