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Le Toux, Casey expected back for crucial game

The Union are in need of offense, and the reinforcements appear ready to help in a must-win game against the Columbus Crew on Saturday at PPL Park.

Philadelphia Union forward Sebastien Le Toux (11) takes a penalty kick and scores to tie the match against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at PPL Park. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (John Geliebter/USA Today)
Philadelphia Union forward Sebastien Le Toux (11) takes a penalty kick and scores to tie the match against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at PPL Park. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (John Geliebter/USA Today)Read more

The Union are in need of offense, and the reinforcements appear ready to help in a must-win game against the Columbus Crew on Saturday at PPL Park.

Trailing Columbus by four points for the fifth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with three games left, the Union have no margin for error.

And although things could change, it appears that the Union's two leading goal scorers will return for the game.

Sebastien Le Toux, who has a team-high 12 goals, and Conor Casey, who has scored eight, missed the 1-1 draw with the visiting Chicago Fire on Oct. 2. Le Toux has been battling an ankle injury, and Casey has tendinitis in one of his knees.

"It looks like Seb and Conor are ready to go, so that is a positive," the Union's interim manager, Jim Curtin, said Thursday after practice at PPL Park.

"I have been off a week, but I'm feeling good," Casey said. "I am hoping to go."

Le Toux said he was looking for daily improvement.

"I am probably 80-85 percent now and hoping to be much closer [to 100 percent] by Saturday," he said.

Curtin said that if Casey is available, he will start and not come off the bench.

"If he tells me he is ready, he starts," Curtin said. "Especially with a knee, getting it loose in a real warm-up before a game is a lot easier than getting warmed up and playing 20 minutes at the end of the game."

The Union are 0-1-3 in their last four MLS games and have scored just three goals in that span. Having Casey and Le Toux return would be a major boost, Curtin said.

Defender Sheanon Williams, who missed the Chicago game with a quadriceps injury, is ready to go. However, defender Ethan White, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, has encountered a different ailment.

"Ethan has an unrelated issue where his back started to act up," Curtin said. "I am hoping, I am optimistic it doesn't keep him out of the game."

One other player who is questionable is midfielder Cristian Maidana, who missed practice Thursday with the flu.

The Union would be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose and the New York Red Bulls beat Toronto on Saturday.

If the Union win, they would still be in the hunt. Eight of the 10 Eastern Conference teams are fighting for the five spots.

Zac MacMath will be the starter in goal, with Rais Mbolhi playing for Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

MacMath has not played since the Union's 3-1 extra-time loss to visiting Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup championship on Sept. 16, but he said rust would not be a factor.

"We put ourselves in many game situations during practice," MacMath said. "I feel like I am sharp enough and ready enough to get ready and hop right back into the game."

@sjnard