The personnel issues facing FC Cincinnati were immediately evident to anyone that attended the team's Tuesday practice at the Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

The group of players was noticeably smaller compared to typical sessions. Four players – Kendall Waston, Allan Cruz, Darren Mattocks, and Frankie Amaya – weren't in attendance due to upcoming commitments to their respective national teams.

Alvas Powell, who will join Mattocks with the Jamaica national team, left midway through Tuesday's training session, further culling the pack.

As some feared would be the case, Fanendo Adi was also absent.

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Adi on Sunday sustained a lower-body injury in first-half stoppage time that ultimately forced him from the match.

The five players leaving FC Cincinnati for international duty were anticipated challenges. Adi's possible absence for the match in New England wasn't expected.

Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch said doctors visited with Adi on Tuesday, although he added, "almost certain (Adi) won't be good to go this week."

Suffice it to say Koch will have to reshuffle his plans for facing the Revolution in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The atmosphere in training this week should be competitive. Several players will have plenty to prove and everyone craving a taste of the action will be pushing for the starting and bench spots that are suddenly vacant.

"Some of the guys, they want to go represent their countries but they don't want to leave us at this time," Koch said. "The byproduct of it is it's a great opportunity for the other guys in the group to show what they can do, so in some respects, it makes my job a little bit easier as a manager managing players because the guys have played well the last two games. I probably would not have made any more changes but now the players get an opportunity. I have to make some changes and now they're fighting for opportunities."

Could FC Cincinnati let down in a less passionate environment on Sunday?

In playing New England at Foxborough, FC Cincinnati is going from three consecutive matches in some of the best environments Major League Soccer has to offer to one that's far less heralded at Gillette Stadium.

New England has only played one home match in 2019. About 13,800 came out for it.

A similar turnout on Sunday would be a significant dropoff for FC Cincinnati in terms of in-stadium atmosphere. Cincinnati played in front of 39,011 at CenturyLink Field and more than 70,000 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Then, FC Cincinnati enjoyed some home cooking before a crowd of 32,250 at Nippert Stadium for its own home opener.

Is letting down in an environment that could be less impassioned cause for concern? No, said Koch.

"Honestly, it's great to play in front of big crowds. It's awesome. It's great to play at home. You can see what our fanbase can do already for us as a group, but our job is between the white lines," Koch said. "If one person shows up or a hundred thousand people show up, it doesn't really change how we go about our work... If we have to go play in front of nobody this weekend, we'll go embrace the challenge."

FC Cincinnati's match Sunday in New England is scheduled for a 4 p.m. kickoff.