The Philadelphia Union will be able to loan players from USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel FC for Open Cup matches, exhibitions and in cases of injuries to first team players.
Major League Soccer's roster rules for the 2016 season have at last given clarity to questions over how and when players from USL affiliates can be loaned to the first team.
According to the 2016 MLS Player Rules and Regulation Summary released on Friday, the Philadelphia Union will be able to loan players from Bethlehem Steel FC for Open Cup matches, exhibition games and in "extreme hardship" cases, which in one scenario would occur when Andre Blake is away on international duty and Matt Jones or John McCarthy are injured.