Julian Carranza’s absence was felt Wednesday night and the prospect of him leaving the club during the summer transfer is a terrifying thought but nonetheless his participation tomorrow night will be a game-time decision. With departures for international duty coming and the Union in a precarious place in the standings, Saturday night really needs to be three points, doesn’t it?

In the email today:

1. 👑 Carranza A Game-Time Decision

While the future of Julian Carranza as a Philadelphia Union remains a question mark, his participation in Saturday’s critical match against CF Montreal is another unknown heading into the weekend.

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin said Friday that the Argentine’s availability would be a game-time decision.

“He has pain for sure in the foot. He’s doing everything he can to get ready for the game, to prepare for it. Obviously, we don't want to risk further injury or damaging anything but he obviously wants to continue to score goals and be a part of the game.”

Carranza’s absence was felt Wednesday in a scoreless draw that saw the Union with only a couple chances and a 0.7 xG.

If he’s not able to go, Curtin has the option to pair Quinn Sullivan and Mikael Uhre again or go to his bench and tap Chris Donovan or Tai Baribo to start. Markus Anderson had a good game with Union II last weekend, scoring a brace, but he’s out now with an injury.

2. 🇧🇦 Haris Medunjanin Hanging Up the Boots

Former Philadelphia Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin won’t quite make it to 40 as an active pro.

The 39-year-old, who spent three seasons in Chester from 2017-2019, announced that he will call time on his professional career with the conclusion of CD Castellon’s season.

“I can't say enough positive words about Haris,” Curtin said Friday. “(He’s) one of those guys that you talk about the culture shift and our improvement and growth as a club where I say we're not perfect by any stretch but was a guy that was a big part of us becoming you know, a perennial pet playoff team, a team that was competing for things and he’s such a great human being and a winner.”

The Bosnian and Herzegovina international made 98 appearances for the Union after being brought in from Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and quickly became one of the stars of a team that improved year over year during his time. He went on to play for FC Cincinnati from 2020-2022 and at PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands before making his final stop with his current club in the Spanish third division.

3. 📣 Tweet of the Day: It Could Be Worse?

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Slump Breaker

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Is the Union Yards opening to blame for the Union’s current home form?

• Photographer Mikey DeAngelis has a gallery of images from Wednesday night’s scoreless draw against Toronto FC.

• Union II midfielder CJ Olney was spotlighted by MLS Next Pro.

• Matt Freese is having a great season, which of course is great to see even if it’s for NYCFC.

• Hunter SC 62Blues have a chance to close out their time together as the club’s first NCS state cup champion when they take on Sporting PA Sunday in the NCS U-18 State Cup final at WSFS Bank Sportsplex.

Philadelphia Raccunion T-shirt available now at Teepublic.

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