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We aren’t sure if you’ve heard, but Sporting Kansas City are utterly decimated by injuries right now. Whether it’s a new injury to forward Daniel Salloi or the multitude of injuries suffered by the other dozen or so players on the roster.
It’s gotten so bad that Sporting KC only fielded four bench players last weekend against D.C. United and that left them three players short of the 18 they are allowed to have dressed on game day.
Because of that, SKC have invoked their ability to do an “Extreme Hardship Call-up.” Here is what that means from the MLS Roster Rules and Regulations:
Clubs may add players to their roster in cases of “Extreme Hardship.” Extreme Hardship exists when an MLS club has: (a) fewer than four available outfield substitutes (less than 14 outfield players available) OR (b) has fewer than two goalkeepers available.
The new injury to Salloi dropped Sporting KC down into that threshold even as players like Matt Besler and Jimmy Medranda are on the edge of returning to the lineup.
That has opened the door for 19-year-old Swope Park Ranger striker Wilson Harris to make the move to the first team. At least temporarily. Per MLS rules, “a club may sign players from its USL affiliate (on loan) to Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) for MLS League Season games only in cases of Extreme Hardship.”
Harris joined the SKC Academy back in 2017 and decided to forego college and sign a professional contract in 2018 with SKC’s USL club, the Swope Park Rangers. Harris typically lines up at center forward and has 22 appearances in his time with SPR. He’s also added four goals during his professional career.
In 2019 Harris has seven appearances for 301 minutes. He’s added a goal and five key passes so far this season. Harris spent preseason with the first team in Arizona and even got time with the SKC backups when Krisztian Nemeth was out hurt.
Harris’ loan seems to confirm that United States U-17 players Gianluca Busio and Tyler Freeman will be unavailable this weekend after finishing as runners up in the 2019 U-17 CONCACAF Championships on Thursday. Busio and Freeman did help the US qualify for the U-17 World Cup.