Two Atlanta United players received playing time on Wednesday with the clubs they are on loan with until the expansion team opens training camp in January ahead of its first season in Major League Soccer.
Midfielder Chris McCann returned from injury and played a complete game for Coventry City in a 2-2 draw with Wimbledon in England’s League One. Forward Kenwyne Jones played a complete game in Central FC’s 4-1 loss to Vancouver in CONCACAF Champions League action.
The playing time is noted because it has been difficult for some Atlanta United players who are on loan to receive consistent minutes this season. Team President Darren Eales said he’s isn’t concerned because the players are training hard.
“For all of us, the lads know they have to be training,” Eales said. “We have the sports science capability to monitor their training, their hours, their fitness, their body fat. They know that we are looking for out for them so when they come in we expect them to be ready to hit the ground running in January.”
The reasons for the inconsistent minutes vary. Take the the three players who are with Charleston in the USL.
Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, the team’s first signing, has played more minutes than any Atlanta United player. The 23-year-old Greek-American has played in 19 games for the Battery and performed well.
Forward Jeffrey Otoo, an 18-year-old native of Ghana, has appeared in five games. The team was waiting on the completion of paperwork, and didn’t want to rush him into game situation. This is Otoo’s first time being outside of Ghana.
Midfielder Andrew Carleton, a 16-year-old native of Powder Springs, has appeared in three games. However, he has bounced between the Battery and calls ups to U.S. youth national teams, which is who he is with this week.
Hector Villalba, a midfielder/forward from Argentina, joined a Tijuana side that is in first place in Mexico’s LIGA MX, so it may be difficult for the team to play someone who will only be the squad for four months. He has made one appearance.
Jones’ Central FC team is only playing in the CONCACAF Champions League, so games are few and far between.
Eales points out that it may be a good thing that the players aren’t appearing in every game because they will go straight from the seasons with their loan teams to MLS, whose season will last from early March until near the end of October.
“It’s good if they are playing but what we wouldn’t want is a burnout situation where they are playing week in and week out,” Eales said.
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