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Union loan midfielder Cruz to team in Norway

Midfielder Danny Cruz, who played in 70 games the previous three seasons for the Union, has been loaned to a team in Norway.

Midfielder Danny Cruz, who played in 70 games the previous three seasons for the Union, has been loaned to a team in Norway.

Cruz, 25, will play for FK Bodo/Glimnt of Tippeligaen, the top division in Norway. The loan is for the 2015 season.

"He needs to be getting 90 minutes, and we thought at this moment in his career it was more likely to happen in Norway," coach Jim Curtin said Wednesday. "This will be a great experience for him. He will see a new league, get different challenges that come with that, and hopefully when he comes back he will be better than ever."

Cruz was acquired in a trade with D.C. United on Aug. 16, 2012, for Lionard Payoy. He has seven goals and five assists with the Union.

In 137 career MLS games, which also includes stints with Houston and D.C. United, he has 12 goals and 13 assists.

Cruz, who was traveling to Norway on Wednesday, suffered a hamstring injury this preseason and didn't play in either of the Union's first two games.

Curtin also said that midfielder Cristian Maidana will be out with a knee injury Friday when the Union face FC Dallas at PPL Park.

Maidana, who has one assist this season, suffered the injury in practice Tuesday.

"It is not serious," Curtin said. "They are cautiously optimistic it will be two weeks or so."

Curtin said he hasn't decided on a replacement but suggested it could be Zach Pfeffer, the 20-year-old product of Upper Dublin. Pfeffer appeared as a reserve in the Union's first two games.