Atlanta United’s Ozzie Alonso cleared to play

Atlanta United is getting healthy again quickly.

Doing individual training Thursday and joining full team training Friday was midfielder Ozzie Alonso, who was cleared by team doctors, and Designated Player Thiago Almada, who was securing a visa. Both are eligible for Sunday’s MLS game against Charlotte at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to manager Gonzalo Pineda.

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Alonso wasn’t allowed to participate in Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Colorado as a precaution after consulting with the team’s cardiologists. He was cleared to return by an MLS doctor, a team doctor and a third party, independent cardiologist who specializes in athletes.

“The mood of the team changed dramatically once he was here,” Pineda said. “And that’s good. He’s been training with us two days, and now I mean, he’s fully reintegrated into the team.”

Alonso, 36, signed with the team as a free agent. He started and played well in the season-opening win Feb. 27 against Sporting KC. Pineda said he doesn’t yet know if Alonso is available to go 90 minutes Sunday because he missed several days of training.

In Alonso’s absence last week, George Campbell started at defensive midfielder.

Pineda said that Almada, who was in Argentina the past month securing his visa, is fit because of work he was doing with the team’s trainer and alone.

“He looked good today,” Pineda said. “We’re very, very happy about his reintegration to the team.”

Pineda said he doesn’t yet know if he will use Almada as a left winger, attacking midfielder or central midfielder. He said he needs time to evaluate him and how he fits within the team.

Midfielder Santiago Sosa, who missed most of preseason recovering from offseason surgery, also rejoined training earlier this week after not appearing the first two games. He and Franco Ibarra also spent several weeks in Argentina working to secure green cards. Pineda said that Sosa is also available. Ibarra, who is recovering from an injury sustained in Mexico during the preseason, is not.

Marcelino Moreno, whom President Darren Eales said earlier this week they hoped would be available for 90 minutes, may not yet be at that point, according to Pineda. Moreno has come off the bench in the first two games.

“But we will see if he can maybe start the game or he can come off the bench,” Pineda said. “I have to still decide that, but he’s still coming back from from a big period of time. He didn’t train in almost any part of preseason. It is hard for me to after two or three weeks just to put a player available for 90 minutes.”

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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule

Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1

March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0