ORLANDO, Fla. – Adrian Heath has just one fervent wish for Orlando City’s visit to Real Salt Lake on Saturday – apart from taking a point or three – and that is for no more injuries.
The Lions are again down to an almost bare-bones squad thanks to the potent combination of international call-ups and ongoing injury problems. And, while the team has both form and momentum, head coach Heath knows their room to maneuver is extremely limited.
Striker Cyle Larin and midfield lynchpin Darwin Ceren are both away for the Gold Cup for at least the next two games and possibly longer if Canada and El Salvador progress out of the group stages, while Brek Shea, Aurelien Collin, Martin Paterson and Tony Cascio remain on the sideline for the foreseeable future.
The only other player who might have been able to provide an element of off-the-bench firepower is Honduran
Bryan Rochez
, but the team’s third Designated Player remains back in his native country resolving visa issues, although he should return to Florida next week.
With Pedro Ribeiro likely to start in place of the in-form Larin and either Lewis Neal or Amobi Okugo deputizing for Ceren, that means Orlando has just six other outfield players to call on in the next week – five of them either defenders of defensive midfielders.
“We simply can’t afford any more injuries,” Heath insisted prior to flying out for Salt Lake City for Saturday's game (10 pm ET, MLS LIVE). “The games come thick and fast now and we are going to need everybody fit and well.
“I am still concerned with the amount of players who are waiting to come back, so some of the other guys are going to have to step up this week. Harrison [Heath] is getting close to being ready and Amobi is chomping at the bit, so we do have some options, but it is what it is and we just have to get on with it.”
While Larin and Ceren will definitely be missed after making their mark in recent weeks, Ribeiro has already shown he's a capable stand-in as the lone forward, although Heath will wait until after their final training session before deciding on his lineup.
“It is not just a matter of selection,” he insisted. “We may decide to tweak our shape a little bit depending upon how everybody feels on Saturday morning.”
Heath also expects to see more from left winger Carlos Rivas after promising displays from the young Colombian in his last three outings, scoring four times in two US Open Cup games – including an absolute thunderbolt against Columbus last Tuesday – and providing a key assist for Larin against Colorado the week before.
“We have seen a little more from him each time just recently,” Heath said. “But he has to keep working on this. He has to go out and say, ‘I’m going to give a better performance now.’
“We are all aware of his talent but it has to become a regular occurrence and he has to make people on the opposing teams realize that he is a real danger.”
Could Rivas even be the option up top? Heath appears to have faith in Ribeiro.
“We have done well in preparing Pedro for this situation in the last few weeks,” he insisted. “He is fit and well and we have got a lot of work into him to prepare him for carrying the load, but we’ll see how it works out in training.”
Ribeiro is eager to resume his all-Brazilian understanding with Orlando DP Kaká, who now has nine goals in all competitions this year after netting the opener against Crew SC midweek.
“I feel excited, and I am ready to play,” Ribeiro said. “Of course it’s a bummer that we don’t have these guys for the next couple of weeks, but I feel with the group we have now, there are other guys who can play at this level. I am definitely ready to step in and contribute.”
