International callups provide backups the opportunity to step up.
That will be the case when the New England Revolution (8-3-6) host Orlando City SC (7-4-5) in the second match of a three-game homestand on Saturday night (7:30) at Gillette Stadium.
“It has an impact on every team in the league,” summarized Revolution head coach Bruce Arena.
The Revolution will enter this important MLS Eastern Conference contest without goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who is away competing for the Serbian National Team.
The Revolution also lost center/outside back Christian Makoun (Venezuela) and forward Damian Rivera (Costa Rica U-23). Left back DeJuan Jones will likely make his 17th MLS start against Orlando City SC. But Jones will immediately decamp Foxboro to join the U.S. National Team and compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament.
“I think it is a big challenge,” said Revolution midfielder Emmanuel Boateng. “Those are key guys to our team, so we just need to step up.
“We have full confidence in our other guys, everybody’s working hard in training. We’ll miss those guys, but I think guys are happy to be able to get the opportunity, too.”
Petrovic and midfielder Carles Gil have been the Revolution’s most indispensable players in the first half of the season. Petrovic has started 17 straight MLS games, logging 1,530 minutes with a 1.24 goals against average and six clean sheets. Ten of the 21 goals Petrovic has allowed has been against three teams, reigning MLS Cup champion Los Angeles FC (4-0), the Chicago Fire (3-3) and Atlanta United FC (3-3).
Arena did not disclose who will start in goal against Orlando City, but the likely candidate is eight-year veteran Earl Edwards Jr., who made his MLS debut with the Lions in 2017.
Edwards made four starts for the Revolution last season (1-2-1) with one clean sheet. Edwards started the Revolution’s two Lamar Hunt U.S. Cup tournament home matches this season, a 2-1 victory over Hartford Athletic on April 25 and a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 10.
With center back Henry Kessler still out with a lingering right hamstring injury, right back Brandon Bye questionable with a shoulder problem and Makoun out of the picture, Edwards could make his 2023 MLS debut protected by a patchwork back end.
“There has to be a lot of communication and whoever it is, he’s going to do a good job communicating with us as well,” said Jones. “Just limiting as many shots and crosses as we can as a defense.
“That’s our goal, we don’t want any crosses and we don’t want any shots. The more we can block their opportunities the better.”
Jones was called up the U.S. National Team in January for a pair of friendlies in California and he is excited to compete in actual “trophy” games. The U.S. is the defending Concacaf Gold Cup champion and Jones could be involved in Group A stage play against Jamaica on June 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Jones will be joined on the roster by former Revs’ keeper Matt Turner, who competes for Arsenal in the English Premier League.
“I’ve been adding a lot of things to my game,” said Jones. “Just getting more experience, becoming more of a leader out there on the field. I just want to put it all together, especially for my country. “