Atlanta United finds itself with major injury issues at goalkeeper for the second consecutive season. Here’s a look at the injury timeline and some options moving forward:
-Team captain Brad Guzan suffered a torn MCL three weeks ago and will be sidelined for at least seven more weeks. A ruptured Achilles tendon sidelined Guzan for most of the 2022 season.
-Quentin Westberg suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Chicago. His diagnosis and prognosis hasn’t been announced by the club.
-Clement Diop replaced Quentin Westberg to start the second half and performed well. He made two saves and completed each of his 15 passes.
Other than Diop, the team has a few options ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match and Saturday’s MLS game at Nashville. Here are a few:
-The transfer window closes Monday night. The team has two senior roster slots and an international roster slot available should it choose to sign another keeper. That seems unlikely. Guzan is expected back. Westberg’s injury could be minor.
-The team could sign as another goalkeeper as a season-ending injury replacement. That is also unlikely because it would mean that either Guzan or Westberg, whomever is tagged as needing to be replaced, would be forced to miss the rest of the season.
MLS used to have an emergency pool goalkeeper that a team could ask for in case of hardship. However, that pool player is no longer an option offered by the league.
Lastly, the league allows for signings in case of “Extreme Hardship,” which includes when it is has fewer than two healthy goalkeepers. “Hardship” applies to league games.
The team has several goalkeepers on Atlanta United 2. Justin Garces, signed as an Homegrown, is recovering from an injury. It is most likely that Atlanta United will sign Vicente Reyes to a short-term agreement. MLS clubs are allowed to sign players from their MLS Next Pro squad to as many as four short-term agreements (no more than four days each or 16 total) per season. The player signed can only make two appearances.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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