Atlanta United midfielder Marcelino Moreno didn’t train with the team Thursday as he continues to recover from a foot injury.
Manager Gonzalo Pineda said Moreno’s issue is with “pain tolerance” but pointed out that there are still many days before the team plays at NYCFC in the first round of the MLS playoffs Nov. 21 at Yankee Stadium.
Moreno has nine goals and five assists in 32 appearances this season.
“He’s improving a lot,” Pineda said. “And if he’s ready, he’s ready. And if he’s not, he’s not. So we will see. But we are optimistic that he will return probably very soon.”
While Moreno didn’t train, defensive midfielder Santiago Sosa participated in some individual sessions and in some of the team sessions Thursday.
Sosa hasn’t played since sustaining an injury in the game against NYCFC on Oct. 20. He played in 25 of the team’s 34 league games.
“We want him integrated as soon as possible,” Pineda said. “And, again, we are very optimistic also with him.”
Joining Atlanta United for Thursday’s training was Homegrown signing centerback Bryce Washington. Pineda said that Washington and Josh Bauer have participated in training to help with the numbers. Atlanta United is down a centerback because Miles Robinson is training with the U.S. men’s national team ahead of its World Cup qualifying games against Mexico and at Jamaica.
“We need them,” Pineda said of Washington and Bauer. “They are up to the standard.”
NYCFC on Wednesday announced that starting midfielder Keaton Parks will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot. He appeared in 31 games and scored four goals with three assists three season. Pineda said he was sad to hear the Parks news because he’s a good player who has been very good for the team this season.
NYCFC also will play without midfielder Gideon Zelalem, who received a red card in the season finale against Philadelphia. He played in seven games for the team this season.
“I always tend to prefer to play against the best 11 because that’s the biggest challenge for us,” Pineda said. “So with that in mind, we will adjust, and we’ll see how that is going to affect them in the build up play, especially where I felt that Parks was very good. And then we will try to find opportunities to just be better than them.”
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Atlanta United’s playoff schedule
Nov. 21 at NYCFC, 3 p.m., ABC
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 0
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 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 0
Oct. 20 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
Oct. 27 Atlanta United 2, Miami 1
Oct. 30 Atlanta United 1, Toronto1
