Striker Josef Martinez will be available for selection for Wednesday’s MLS game against Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda.
“He looks good,” Pineda said. “And I think that’s good for the team. Also, the spirit of the session was good. I mean, he has a big presence on the field, a leadership role, and everybody follows when he talks. So that’s great to have Josef back.”
Martinez, who leads the team with nine goals, didn’t travel with the team for Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Philadelphia because Pineda wanted him to rest his knee.
Atlanta United is in eighth place in the East. It is three points from third place and four points ahead of 10th-place Miami.
Martinez participated in all of the periods during Tuesday’s session and took penalty kicks afterward.
Pineda said he thinks that Martinez’s right knee is still suffering from overload of use, but he said he knows that Martinez wants to play.
Pineda said he doesn’t know if Martinez will play 90 minutes. He said having five subs makes it slightly easier to play him and then take him off should he feel discomfort in the knee.
Pineda said he will rely on his communication with Martinez to determine how long he plays and when he plays.
“I hope the best for Josef is at the end of the year,” Pineda said.
Pineda said that midfielder Franco Ibarra, striker Erick Torres and assistant coach Rob Valentino will not be available Wednesday. Ibarra is still gaining fitness. Torres and Valentino, whom Pineda said he misses because of his presence in training and film session, are in health and safety protocols that likely will require them to also miss Saturday’s game at Montreal.
Jurgen Damm is progressing well after not being available for Philadelphia and could be available for Wednesday. Atlanta United Academy Director Matt Lawrey is serving as an assistant coach in place of Valentino.
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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 vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 2 at Montreal, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
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, BSSO/BSSE
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
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