Atlanta United has three healthy centerbacks for Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal game against Club America in Mexico City after manager Frank de Boer revealed on Monday that Laurence Wyke will miss the game because of a concussion. Wednesday’s game starts at 10:30 p.m. and will be televised on FS2.
Wyke sustained his injury in the first half of last week’s win against Cincinnati. De Boer said it’s unlikely that Wyke will be available for Saturday’s MLS game against Sporting KC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The three healthy centerbacks are Fernando Meza, Anton Walkes and 18-year-old rookie George Campbell, who came on for Wyke and finished the game.
Centerbacks who are injured and won’t play are Wyke, Miles Robinson (quad) and Franco Escobar (dead leg). Fullback Edgar Castillo (rib) is also expected to miss the game.
The team announced on Monday that it has acquired striker J.J. Williams from Birmingham in the USL. De Boer said that Williams is another possibility along with Adam Jahn, who played 90 minutes against Cincinnati. Williams was selected by Columbus in the 18th pick in the 2019 MLS draft. He was loaned to Birmingham where he scored seven goals.
The team is still pursuing signing a striker to replace the injured Josef Martinez. De Boer wouldn’t say if there is an acquisition looming.
“Every speculation that I do then suddenly I’ve said this or there is no possibility,” he said. “We have no one right now and we are looking very carefully at the market.”
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