Atlanta United will be without three players when it faces Columbus on Saturday as the third in a stretch of eight games in 25 days.
Manager Gerardo Martino said Friday that Anton Walkes, Kenwyne Jones and Jacob Peterson are not available for this week’s game at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Walkes, a centerhalf on loan from Tottenham in England’s Premier League, was wearing a walking boot at Thursday’s practice. He suffered an injury during Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Charleston in the U.S. Open Cup. Martino said Walkes was scheduled to have an MRI before Monday. Walkes started Wednesday’s game. He has three appearances, all as a sub, in MLS games.
Jones, a striker, suffered a knee injury Tuesday while on national-team duty with Trinidad and Tobago. His right knee was wrapped at practice Friday. Martino said the team is waiting for the swelling in Jones’ knee to decrease before a next step is taken. Jones has 12 appearances this season, including four starts, and has scored two goals.
Jones is the second Atlanta United player to suffer an injury while playing with their national team. Josef Martinez suffered a thigh injury with Venezuela in late March from which he has only recently returned.
Peterson, a midfielder out since the season’s fourth game because of an ankle injury, recently received what Martino described as a special treatment that required 5-6 days of complete rest. He has resumed individual training, but is not yet on the field with the team.
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