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Union scouting Kacper Przybylko, 6-foot-4 Polish striker, to boost attack for playoffs

Jim Curtin calls the 25-year-old "A big target No. 9 and a guy who has really good feet for a big guy."

Kacper Przybylko (center), a 6-foot-4 Polish striker, is on trial with the Philadelphia Union.
Kacper Przybylko (center), a 6-foot-4 Polish striker, is on trial with the Philadelphia Union.Read moreJonathan Tannenwald/Staff

The Union have brought in 6-foot-4 Polish striker Kacper Przybylko for a tryout, with an eye on boosting the team's attacking depth in the midst of the playoff race.

Przybylko, 25, most recently played for German second-division club Kaiserslautern, though he only got into one game last season. His best scoring season came in 2015-16, his first year at Kaiserslautern, when he had seven goals and one assist in 30 games. In the 2014-15 season, he had five goals and four assists in 32 games for Greuther Fürth, also in Germany's second division.

He was a Polish youth national team prospect at one point, up to the under-21 level, but has never made the cut for the senior team.

Despite his lack of recent goals, a 6-foot-4 striker naturally commands attention.

"We're taking a look," Curtin said. "He's done really well. A big target No. 9 and a guy who has really good feet for a big guy, and overall has done good with his first couple days."

Przybylko is currently out of contract, so the Union are able to sign even though the transfer window has closed. And with an open roster spot in the wake of Eric Ayuk's departure to Turkey, there's room to make an addition. If the Union decide to sign him, they must do so before MLS' roster freeze deadline on Sept. 14.

"There will be some discussions in the very near future," Curtin said. " Then we'll make a decision that is best for the team down the stretch."

Injury updates on Borek Dockal, Ilsinho

Borek Dockal was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle in Saturday's 2-2 tie at Orlando City, but the injury turned out to not be too severe. He has a sprained ankle, and Curtin said the Czech playmaker will be out "two weeks at the quickest."

Dockal's injury out of a return to the Czech Republic national team. He was to be called up for their game Thursday against Ukraine in the newly-launched UEFA Nations League, but had to turn the invitation down.

As disappointing as that is for him, the good news is the Union don't play again until Sept. 15 against Montreal. So there's time to take it easy.

"We're going to push like crazy to try to get him ready for Montreal, because of the importance of that game," Curtin said. "It looks like it's just an ankle sprain, nothing more than that, which is positive."

Ilsinho's situation is worse: he has a torn adductor for the second time this year, and will be out three to four weeks. The Brazilian winger suffered the injury after coming in as a second-half substitute in the Orlando game.