Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez’s status for Saturday’s MLS game at Toronto will be determined Friday, manager Gonzalo Pineda said. Additionally, centerback Miles Robinson and fullback George Bello, who have been with the U.S. for its World Cup qualifying games, likely will be available.
Martinez, who leads the team with 10 goals, didn’t train with the team Tuesday or Thursday, which were the days the media could watch sessions. Pineda said that Martinez has been training by himself in a controlled setting to better assess the status of his hamstring and right knee.
“He’s doing more and more,” Pineda said.
The team is scheduled to fly to Toronto on Friday. Atlanta United is in eighth place in the East, one point below the playoff line with six games remaining.
Pineda said that he would talk to Martinez on Friday to gauge his availability. Pineda said that it wasn’t ideal that Martinez couldn’t train with the team Thursday.
“He’s so important to the team that if he’s available and if he has 30 minutes in his legs to impact the game, I might be willing to take him,” Pineda said. “It’s just, is he in the right mind-set, is he in the right physical status, he might be joining the team. Why not?”
Should Martinez not be available, Pineda said the team has spent part of the past two weeks working on different formations, including playing with another striker, Erick Torres, using one false nine, using two false nines, which the team has used before with mixed success, or using two wingers and an attacking midfielder. Pineda said the team also would miss Martinez’s leadership and ability to hold teammates accountable. Torres has yet to score in 551 minutes played this season.
“We’ve worked enough on different possibilities,” Pineda said.
Pineda said he thinks there is a specific formation that he thinks will cause Toronto issues. Pineda said that decision would be made Friday.
Pineda said that midfielder Amar Sejdic has been cleared to play. Midfielder Tyler Wolff will not be available because he suffered a sprained toe.
Robinson, a candidate for MLS Defender of the Year, started two of the three U.S. games. Bello started one. Pineda said the trainers would need to talk to Robinson to make sure that he’s OK to play Saturday. Pineda said he thinks that Bello is fine.
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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule
April 17 Atlanta United 0, Orlando 0
April 24 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 1
May 1 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
May 9 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 1,
May 15 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
May 23 Atlanta United 1, Seattle 1
May 29 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
June 20 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
June 23 NYCFC 1, Atlanta United 0
June 27 Atlanta United 0, New York Red Bulls 0
July 3 Chicago 3, Atlanta United 0
July 8 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
July 17 New England 1, Atlanta United 0
July 21 Atlanta United 1, Cincinnati 1
July 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
July 30 Orlando 3, Atlanta United 2
Aug. 4 Atlanta United 2, Montreal 2
Aug. 7 Atlanta United 3, Columbus 2
Aug. 15 Atlanta United 1, LAFC 0
Aug. 18 Atlanta United 1, Toronto
Aug. 21 Atlanta United 2, D.C. United 1
Aug. 28 Nashville 2, Atlanta United 0
Sept. 10 Atlanta United 3, Orlando 0
Sept. 15 Atlanta United 4, Cincinnati 0
Sept. 18 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 2
Sept. 25 Philadelphia 1, Atlanta United 0
Sept. 29 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 0
Oct. 2 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
Oct. 16 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 20 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 27 vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 30 vs. Toronto, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Nov. 3 at New York Red Bulls, TBD, FS1
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
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