Atlanta United will be close to full strength for Saturday’s regular-season finale at Cincinnati and, barring any unexpected issues, for the subsequent MLS playoffs.
Manager Gonzalo Pineda said Thursday that all of the players who participated with their national teams have returned and are available for selection for Saturday. That group includes Giorgos Giakoumakis, who scored for Greece; Saba Lobjanidze, who had several assists for Georgia; Miles Robinson, who helped the U.S. shut out Ghana; Thiago Almada, who is with Argentina; Luis Abram, who was with Peru; and Caleb Wiley, who was with the U.S. Under-23s.
“We have some momentum with those guys,” Pineda said.
Among the previously injured players, Pineda said midfielder Ozzie Alonso is healthy. Striker Jamal Thiare, who suffered a concussion against Columbus, returned to training Thursday. Tyler Wolff, who sustained a hip injury a few weeks ago, has resumed training but will not be available for Saturday. Pineda said Wolff has a high pain tolerance, but the team doesn’t want to risk a re-injury.
Wolff, who is team’s third-leading scorer, can be replaced by Derrick Etienne or Edwin Mosquera as a sub off the bench because they can play on either side, Pineda said.
“We have a lot of pieces there that at any moment can come and not just play the role, but actually improve the role and be a true game-changer,” Pineda said. “So blessed with that opportunity to have in this part of the year, a good roster to have options from the bench to change the outcome of the games.”
Winger Machop Chol is out for the remainder of the season.
Playoff seeding. Atlanta United is in sixth place in the East. It can finish as high as fifth or as low as seventh, depending upon results.
The team will find out its opponent in the first round of the playoffs after Saturday’s matches. All matches between Eastern Conference teams will kickoff at 6:07 p.m.
Atlanta United likely will face either Orlando, Philadelphia or Columbus in the playoffs. There’s a slight chance it could face New England. The first round is best-of-three, with the higher seed hosting the first game and, if needed, the third.
The window for the first match is Oct. 29-Nov. 1. The window for the second match is Nov. 5-8. The Falcons host the Vikings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Nov. 5.
The playoff schedule is expected to be announced Sunday.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 1
May 17 Atlanta United 4, Colorado 0
May 20 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 3
May 27 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
May 31 Atlanta United 3, New England 3
June 7 Atlanta United 0, LAFC 0
June 10 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
June 21 Atlanta United 2, New York City 2
June 24 New York Red Bulls 4, Atlanta United 0
July 2 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 0
July 8 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
July 12 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 15 Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1
July 25 Miami 4, Atlanta United 0 in Leagues Cup
July 29 Cruz Azul 1 (5), Atlanta United (4) 1 in Leagues Cup
Aug. 20 Atlanta United 2, Seattle 0
Aug. 26 Atlanta United 4, Nashville 0
Aug. 30 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
Sept. 2 Atlanta United 2, FC Dallas 2
Sept. 16 Atlanta United 5, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 20 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 1
Sept. 23 Atlanta United 4, Montreal 1
Oct. 4 Philadelphia 3, Atlanta United 2
Oct. 7 Atlanta United 1, Columbus 1
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, 6 p.m.
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