Atlanta United’s George Bello and Florentin Pogba are available for selection for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Monterrey in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to manager Frank de Boer. Atlanta United was defeated by Monterrey 3-0 in the first leg last week in Mexico.
Bello, a 17-year-old native of Douglasville, started at left wingback in the team’s first Champions League at Herediano in Costa Rica on Feb. 21. He suffered an undisclosed injury that prevented him from playing again until he started last week’s Atlanta United 2 game. Brek Shea has started at left wingback in place of Bello.
Pogba, a centerback, is also available for selection to the 18. He has yet to play for the first team, but he also started on Saturday for Atlanta United 2. Atlanta United will be without centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez on Wednesday because of yellow card accumulation.
De Boer said defender Franco Escobar (shoulder) won’t be available for selection until he is cleared by doctors. It may be two more weeks. When he is cleared, he will likely get his first minutes with Atlanta United 2. Escobar suffered his injury on the first day of training camp in January.
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