News Burch Could Be Out Long-Term, Returning Questions to Minnesota United’s Backline by Wes Burdine on 19 June 2017

Minnesota United left back Marc Burch is now a serious concern for a long-term injury as he heads to Philadelphia to have a scan on a potential hernia. Burch’s injury made him a late scratch from Saturday’s Real Salt Lake loss. It means that Adrian Heath will need to once again rethink his defense.

Marc Burch had been managing a hip injury throughout the season. A potential hernia could put him out for a long stretch of the season. His contract runs until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old defender arrived at Minnesota United as part of the lopsided deal that brought Sam Cronin to the Loons in exchange for Josh Gatt and Mohammed Saeid. He made his debut for the Loons in a 2-0 defeat against FC Dallas on April 8. To that point in the season, Minnesota had allowed four goals per game. In the ten games since, Minnesota has allowed 1.4 goals per game in league play.

Losing Burch means that the Loons’ defense yet again has question marks surrounding�it. His natural replacement would be Justin Davis, who has made five appearances already in 2017. On Saturday, however, J�r�me Thiesson moved to the left and Kevin Venegas started on the right. Davis did not travel with the 18 to Salt Lake City, and Burch (as well as Johan Venegas) were both late scratches from the starting eleven.

Thiesson has said in the past that he can play both sides of the pitch comfortably, preferring the left when he defends and the right if he’s tasked with going forward. This versatility will allow Heath to weigh his options over choosing Davis or Kevin Venegas.

Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window opens on July 10th. A Minnesota�side that was already needing reinforcements may need to look for another player during that window.

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Tags: Injuries, Injury, Marc Burch, Minnesota United FC, MLS