Atlanta United fullback Ronald Hernandez is expected to miss the next 3-4 months of the MLS season after sustaining an MCL injury in his right knee Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Columbus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The team announced the diagnosis and prognosis Tuesday. It will host Pachuca on June 14 and resume league play against Miami on June 19.
Hernandez, 24, has made seven appearances, including five starts, this season. He likely will miss the remainder of the regular season. He will not join Venezuela for its coming friendly matches.
Hernandez was in at left back because Andrew Gutman suffered a quad injury in the previous game and is expected to miss 2-3 months.
Atlanta United has suffered at least 18 injuries to players going back to the first week of training camp.
The current list includes Hernandez, Gutman, fullback Caleb Wiley, midfielder Santiago Sosa and midfielder Machop Chol. Out for the season are goalkeepers Brad Guzan (Achilles) and Dylan Castanheira (Achilles), centerback Miles Robinson (Achilles) and midfielder Ozzie Alonso (ACL).
The injuries to Gutman and Hernandez leave Wiley and Mikey Ambrose as the available left fullbacks on the roster.
Manager Gonzalo Pineda has been asked many times if the team’s medical staff and training staff should be reevaluated in the wake of the injuries. He has said he trusts them completely. He said after each injury every practice and protocol are reviewed to search for any commonalities. He said there are none to be found because some of the injuries have occurred on grass at the team’s training facility or on the road. Some have occurred on turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Those who have suffered contact injuries going back to the preseason include Marcelino Moreno, Chol, Hernandez, Alonso, Gutman, Alex De John and Alan Franco. Those who have suffered non-contact injuries include Sosa, Josef Martinez, Luiz Araujo, Guzan, Castanheira, Robinson, Franco Ibarra, Jake Mulraney, Matheus Rossetto, George Campbell and Dom Dwyer.
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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
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0
April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0
April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1
April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1
May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2
May 21 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
May 28 Columbus 2, Atlanta United 1
June 19 vs. Miami, 3 p.m., ESPN2
June 25 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 30 at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 3 at NYCFC, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 9 vs. Austin, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
Aug. 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 21 at Columbus, 5:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
Aug. 31 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
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