Tom Edwards out for 'weeks' due to 'personal reasons'

New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber has confirmed defender Tom Edwards will be out for a number of weeks due to 'personal reasons'.

Edwards picked up a suspension following RBNY's 4-3 win away at Austin FC due to yellow card accumulation. The 23-year-old then returned to England and has since missed the US Open Cup meeting with Orlando City, a friendly clash with Barcelona, and MLS matches against the Colorado Rapids and DC United.

In Edwards' absence, the Red Bulls have lost three of those matches and drawn the other, conceding 12 goals along the way. However, according to Struber, the defender won't be back soon as he deals with a personal matter.

“It’s a difficult question. Right now he is not available for personal reasons and I think we have to accept that at the moment this is for me and the team a problem. That’s clear," Struber told reporters on Thursday. "We have a contract with him but we have to respect his personal reasons at the moment. He’s not available right now and for what we can see for the next weeks.”

Edwards has been a mainstay in the Red Bulls defense this season, starting 19 of his 20 MLS appearances. The Stoke City loanee is third among his teammates for interceptions (19) and fourth for clearances (39), while he's also created 15 chances so far.

In Edwards' absence, RBNY will look to return to winning ways at home to Orlando City on Saturday, heading into the weekend fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.

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