Andrea Pirlo has returned to New York due to a minor knee injury. (Jeffrey Swinger/USA Today Sports)

New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo will miss Sunday’s game at Orlando City SC for treatment on a minor knee injury.

The Italian international, who flew back to New York, is expected to return to training next week.

As it turns out, City will play without four players against its Major League nemesis Sunday.

Defender Ronald Matarrita and midfielder-forward Khiry Shelton still are injured.

Midfielder Yangel Herrera’s absence continues as he represents Venezuela in the Under-20 World Cup in Korea.

Herrera, who captained Venezuela, played all 90 minutes in the surprising 2-0 win over Germany in the Group B opener for both teams. Sergio Cordova and Ronaldo Pena scored in the second half.

The South American side takes on Vanuatu in Daejon at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

In Group B’s other game, Mexico used a 90th-minute goal to defeat Vanuatu, 3-2.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.