Mikey Ambrose is scheduled to get his first start this season for Atlanta United in Sunday’s game at Sporting KC.
Ambrose, 23, will move into the starting 11 in place of Greg Garza, who is out 7-10 days after suffering a separated shoulder in Wednesday's MLS All-Star game in Chicago.
Atlanta United acquired Ambrose in the expansion draft. He was left unprotected by Orlando City, where he started four games in five appearances last season.
He has appeared in three league games for Atlanta United this season, including most recently as a sub for 14 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Orlando City at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Season.
“He’s going to give us a lot of the same things that Greg brings,” manager Gerardo Martino said. “They are both good going forward in attack. Both are good marking players. They are pretty similar in what they bring.”
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said his approach as the defensive organizer won’t change with Ambrose in place of Garza, who started 20 of Atlanta United’s 21 games this season.
“We both just needed to be clued in, as well as Leandro (Gonzalez Pirez), Parkie (Michael Parkhurst) as a collective unit obviously help to him, but we have the collective belief,” Guzan said. “You saw that the other weekend when he came in.
“For us, it’s shame what happened with Greg, but that’s what being a part of a team is all about. One guy goes down and another steps up.”
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