Homegrown philosophy gets All-Star treatment

The Union’s reliance on Homegrown Players has been growing, and during the MLS AllStar Game, it will be showcased league-wide.

Four Union players — Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Anthony Fontana and Matt Real — will be part of the MLS delegation to the Homegrown Game against Mexican club Tigres UNAL’s Under-20 side July 30 as part of All-Star Week in Atlanta.

Four selections from one team ties the Homegrown Game high, set in 2016 by Real Salt Lake. Trusty was part of the game last year, alongside the fifth Homegrown on the Union roster, Derrick Jones.

Trusty, the 19-year-old native of Media, has started every game this season. He’s the only field player not to miss a league minute in 2018.

McKenzie, also 19, has established himself as a capable central defense partner after being signed in January after one season at Wake Forest. Supplanting Jack Elliott after an injury, McKenzie has started 11 games for the Union, logging 999 minutes.

Matt Real, a 19-year-old from Drexel Hill, spent last season with Bethlehem Steel. He was signed to a first-team contract in January and has made three starts as a reserve left back for the Union. He’s played regularly with Steel this season, playing 10 games and scoring a goal.

Fontana started the seasonopener, scoring against New England in his pro debut after signing a pre-contract last summer. He’s only appeared in four games since, all as a sub, but he has played eight times for Steel. Fontana, 18, graduated from YSC Academy in June.

The 2018 foursome double the total of Union Homegrown Game participants alltime to eight, joining Jones and Trusty last year and Zach Pfeffer in 2014 and 2015. The Homegrown squad will be managed by Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan and will take on Tigres at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.

The MLS All-Stars, to which no Union players were selected by fans or the coaching staff, will take on Italian club Juventus (potentially with new signing Cristiano Ronaldo) Aug. 1.