Photo: Michael Long

Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Icelandic international and PSP favorite, has left the Philadelphia Independence to return to Iceland. The official press release from the Independence says that the club and Magnusdottir “have agreed to a mutual termination of contract.”

Magnusdottir found herself in the starting XI early in the season, but more recently has been preferred off of the bench. Listed as a midfielder, the versatile player has also seen time at outside back and at striker this season. Magnusdottir appeared in twelve games, starting in six and recording a goal and an assist in 586 minutes of action.

I caught up with Paul Riley after the Independence’s 2-0 loss to Sky Blue on Saturday and he had this to say: “She wanted to play some games, we couldn’t guarantee her games. We can’t guarantee anyone games. She was hoping to play ten games before the European Championships. I wanted to loan her and bring her back for the playoffs, but we couldn’t do it, the rules don’t allow it.”

He left the door open for a return in 2012 though. “If Frida wants to come back next year, we’ll make that decision when we get there,” Riley said. “She’s a great player, a great servant…I’ll be shocked if you don’t see her in the Philadelphia uniform again next season.”

With Magnusdottir’s departure, the coverage for the Independence at the back is minimal. Leigh Ann Robinson and Estelle Johnson are really the only two natural outside backs on the squad. And Kia McNeill and Nikki Krzysik are the only two natural center backs. Megan Rapinoe had seen time at outside back under Riley early in the season, but she was traded to magicJack during the World Cup. Riley hinted that in a pinch, midfielder Sinead Farrelly or striker Danesha Adams could fill in at outside back.

The Independence are hoping to use the allocation money that they received for Megan Rapinoe to bring in another player before the end of the season. But that seems to be in danger now.

“We’ve been on the phone with a couple of very good players,” Riley said, “but we don’t know if we can sure it up in such a short time frame. We have five players in mind, and we only need one, maybe two. We need a defender, possibly another forward.”