NEW YORK – Ben Olsen is still six days from his debut as the head coach of the MLS All-Star team, and he’s already doing a bit of jostling with the lineup.
The league announced Thursday that Olsen has selected San Jose Earthquakes left back Justin Morrow to replace injured First XI selection Heath Pearce in next Wednesday’s matchup against Chelsea, thanks to a nagging hamstring injury that has sidelined the Red Bulls defender much of July.
Morrow, 24, becomes the fourth San Jose player on the MLS roster, joining right back Steven Beitashour and striker Chris Wondolowski, who were both voted into the fans’ First XI earlier this month, as well as fellow left back Ramiro Corrales, who was selected to the roster by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Morrow has a goal and two assists in 21 games in his first season as a regular starter for the first-place Quakes. This is his first All-Star selection.
Pearce, meanwhile, has not played since June 30 due his injury.
