Union Announce 2015 Preseason Roster
By Kevin Kinkead
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For the first time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Union has made public its preseason roster.
The club announced the roster in a press release Sunday afternoon.
Four draft picks will join four trialists and three academy players as training camp begins on January 26th at YSC Sports in Wayne, PA.
Among the trialists are goalkeepers John McCarthy and Brian Sylvestre. McCarthy is a Reading United alumnus and currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in USL Pro. Sylvestre plays for Union affiliate club Harrisburg City Islanders. Coady Andrews is a defender who also played for the City Islanders.
The final trialist, Hermes Palomino, is probably the most intriguing. He's a 5'11" striker, 26 years old, currently playing for Aragua in Venezuela. He has one cap for Venezuela's national side and has spent the bulk of his career in his home country.
The four draftees include forward Dzenan Catic, midfielder Eric Bird, and defenders Aaron Simmons and Raymond Lee.
Academy participants include midfielder Sean Wilson, goalkeeper Andrew Verdi, and forward Sebastian Elney.
Goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi will miss the start of training camp on international duty with Algeria. That means Andre Blake will be joined by McCarthy, Sylvestre, and Verdi as the four goalkeepers in camp.
Defender Carlos Valdes is also listed on the roster, despite rumors linking him to several clubs in South America.
Sources tell CBS Philly that Valdes is a Union player and that the team has not agreed to any transfer or loan deal.
Philadelphia Union training camp roster :
Goalkeepers: Rais Mbolhi, Andre Blake, Brian Sylvestre (trialist), John McCarthy (trialist), Andrew Verdi (academy)
Defenders: Coady Andrews (trialist), Austin Berry, Fabinho, Ray Gaddis, Raymond Lee (draft pick), Richie Marquez, Aaron Simmons (draft pick), Carlos Valdes, Ethan White, Sheanon Williams
Midfielders: Eric Bird (draft pick), Brian Carroll, Danny Cruz, Maurice Edu, Fred, Michael Lahoud, Sebastien Le Toux, Cristian Maidana, Jimmy McLaughlin, Vincent Nogueira, Zach Pfeffer, Andrew Wenger, Sean Wilson (academy)
Forwards: Dzenan Catic (draft pick), Conor Casey, Sebastian Elney (academy), Antoine Hoppenot, Hermes Palomino (trialist), CJ Sapong, Aaron Wheeler