Brooks Lennon’s injury won’t affect Atlanta United’s approach to the transfer market, manager Gonzalo Pineda said Tuesday.
Lennon suffered an MCL injury during pregame warmups last week at Toronto and is expected to be out for at least the next six weeks. The team is down to two healthy fullbacks who were on the roster at the start of the season: Mikey Ambrose and Caleb Wiley. In addition to Lennon, out injured are Andrew Gutman (quad) and Ronald Hernandez (MCL).
“That doesn’t change the type of player we want to bring,” Pineda said.
Pineda said Gutman is recovering better than expected but likely is still 2-3 weeks away from a return. He will travel with the team for this week’s games at the Red Bulls on Thursday and at NYCFC on Sunday.
Aiden McFadden played in place of Lennon at Toronto and performed well. He started the season with Atlanta United 2. Pineda said Machop Chol is McFadden’s backup at right fullback.
“Hopefully he can be on the field until we have our older players back,” Pineda said of McFadden.
Santiago Sosa returned to team training for the first time in at least two weeks Tuesday, but Pineda said it’s unlikely he will factor into the plans for the Red Bulls. Sosa was suffering from what was described as an illness that wasn’t COVID-19.
Thiago Almada’s three-game red-card suspension will end after Thursday’s game. Pineda said they have been giving Almada extra training so that he is ready to resume playing with the team at NYCFC.
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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 Atlanta United 2, Miami 0
June 25 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 1
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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