Casey Short, Kristen Hamilton join USWNT for game in Philadelphia due to injuries

Amid a pileup of injuries to World Cup stars, the U.S. women’s soccer team announced Monday that Chicago Red Stars left back Casey Short and North Carolina Courage forward Kristen Hamilton are joining the squad for the two upcoming games against Portugal, including Thursday’s contest at Lincoln Financial Field (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1).

All 23 women who won the Americans’ second straight World Cup title last month are expected to be here, at least of now, and make appearances including Wednesday’s free open practice at the Linc. But it’s clear that they won’t all play.

Three players are certainly out: Megan Rapinoe (left achilles), Kelley O’Hara (left ankle) and Alex Morgan (concussion). Five are banged up: Rose Lavelle (head), Mallory Pugh (right hip), Morgan Brian (left thigh), Tierna Davidson (right thigh) and Alyssa Naeher (left thigh).

Julie Ertz also bore the brunt of a heavy collision in Chicago’s nationally-televised 3-0 loss at Portland on Sunday, though she seemed to recover fron it.

Short might arrive in town with mixed emotions. The best left back in the American player pool, she was the last player cut to set the World Cup roster. U.S. coach Jill Ellis’ squad didn’t have a true left back on it, but Crystal Dunn delivered a mammoth effort to hide the deficiency.

It’s only so much consolation that Short will take part in another historic occasion here, as the U.S. plays before the largest crowd for a standalone friendly in program history. But at least it will put Short in the record books in some way.

Hamilton has earned her first ever national team callup amid a terrific season for the Courage. She stepped up big while the World Cup players were gone, scoring a hat trick against Orlando on June 1 and four goals against Houston on July 5. The 27-year-old was set to go to England this week with the U.S. under-23 team (effectively the senior B squad) for a tournament that allows a few overage players. Instead, she’s been invited to the big stage.

“With the injuries we currently have to several World Cup players, and with two of our main priorities on the victory tour being spreading around the minutes and keeping players healthy for their clubs during this critical playoff push, it made sense to call in Casey and Kristen to give us options and depth for these games against what will be a tough Portugal team,” Ellis said in a statement. “Both players have been performing very well in the NWSL and I know they’ll fit right in with our group for these matches.”

After playing here, the U.S. will face Portugal again next Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. (8 p.m., ESPN2). These games take place during a FIFA international window, which means the players won’t miss any games with their NWSL clubs.