With the exception of three players, Atlanta United should have an almost full roster to choose from for Wednesday’s game at D.C. United.
Strikers Josef Martinez (foot) and Kenwyne Jones (knee), and fullbacks Mark Bloom (back) and Greg Garza (shoulder) participated in the team’s first-ever practice at Mercedes-Benz on Saturday.
The only player that manager Gerardo Martino said won’t be available because of injury is goalkeeper Alec Kann, who suffered a strained quad against Columbus.
Atlanta United (10-7-5) is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Martinez has played in nine games, scoring nine goals.
Jones has played in 12 games, scoring two goals.
Garza has played in 20 games, scoring one goal and three assists. He said the “shoulder is the shoulder” and he’s going to play as long as he can. He indicated that surgery in the offseason may be a possibility.
The other two players who won’t be available are Andrew Carleton and Chris Goslin, who are with the U.S. U-17 national team training for the World Cup in October.
After playing at D.C. United, the team will face Philadelphia on Aug. 26. It will return home to open Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Dallas on Sept. 10. It will be the first of eight games in 24 days.
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