Atlanta United getting healthy for MLS playoffs

ajc.com

Atlanta United’s players are getting healthier in a hurry ahead of the coming playoff series against the New York Red Bulls.

Manager Gerardo Martino on Friday said that midfielders Jeff Larentowicz (muscle injury) and Andrew Carleton (flu) would return to training Friday. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe (hamstring) and fullback Chris McCann (quad strain) may return next week. Atlanta United will host the Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Nov. 25 in the first leg. The second leg will be played in Harrison, N.J. on Nov. 29.

McCann didn’t play in the semifinals series against NYCFC after suffering his injury in the regular-season finale at Toronto. Larentowicz, who has 33 starts this season, didn’t play in the second leg of the series at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Nagbe, who has 23 starts during the regular season, played in both games, but it was announced after the second game that he sustained a strain. He was supposed to join the U.S. men’s national team for its games against England and Italy, but instead stayed in Atlanta to rehab.

Additionally, midfielder Brandon Vazquez, who has missed several week,  trained Friday. Fullback Sal Zizzo (knee) is in the last stage of his rehab and may return as early as next week. Fullback Mikey Ambrose (knee) won’t return this season, though his rehab is going well.