Barco expected to train with Atlanta United next week

ATLANTA, GA - July 29  2017 Gerardo 'tata' Martino got a warm welcome as the team arrives to the Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Atlanta, Ga. Today will be the last game for the team at Georgia Tech next home game for the Atlanta United will be at Mercedes Benz Staidum on September the 10th against the FC Dallas

Credit: MIguel Martinez

Credit: MIguel Martinez

ATLANTA, GA - July 29 2017 Gerardo 'tata' Martino got a warm welcome as the team arrives to the Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Atlanta, Ga. Today will be the last game for the team at Georgia Tech next home game for the Atlanta United will be at Mercedes Benz Staidum on September the 10th against the FC Dallas

Ezequiel Barco could return to training with Atlanta United next week, manager Gerardo Martino said Thursday.

Martino then said he wishes he could have him for Saturday’s game against LAFC. Barco, the most expensive transfer in MLS history, suffered a quad strain during training for the season-opening game at Houston and has yet to make an appearance.

But that’s next week.

This week, Martino must put together a lineup that could be without three starters on defense and facing LAFC, which has scored nine goals in only three games.

“It’s also a big challenge that our absences are going up against one of the strengths of their team,” Martino said.

The Five Stripes will play without centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (yellow-card accumulation) and defender Franco Escobar (concussion) for Saturday’s game, which will start at 5 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Based upon what Martino did in last week’s 1-0 win at Minnesota United, it seems likely that Chris McCann will slide into one of the centerback slots. The other could be filled by Miles Robinson, who has impressed in two starts this season with Atlanta United 2. Robinson is the last centerback on the roster, though Martino said that Sal Zizzo could also play the position.

If the team plays with three centerbacks, Martino said Robinson could play in that group. If they go with a four-man backline, the two centerbacks could be Jeff Larentowicz and Parkhurst.

Larentowicz, who was forced to leave Saturday’s game with an ankle injury, has trained with the team and is expected to be able to play, according to Martino. Larentowicz has started all four games.

“We have a lot of options,” Martino said.

That Robinson was included speaks to the work he is putting in to developing his skills with Atlanta United 2 during games and with the first team during training. The former Syracuse standout, selected with the second pick in last year's SuperDraft, has yet to log a minute in league play with Atlanta United.

“We understand that the USL team is a brand new team, so Scott (Donnelly) and the coaching staff are still getting those guys to play how we want them to play,” Martino said. “It’s difficult for them because they odn’t always know what palyers they can count on from week to week, but what I’ve seen from Miles is every week since the preseason he is progressing and he is going to be a player that we can rely on during the season.”

Martino said the team will decide Friday if fullback Greg Garza will be able to play. He suffered a shoulder injury in the final minutes of the Minnesota game. Garza has yet to train with the team this week. Garza has started three of the team’s four games this season. If Garza can’t play, Mikey Ambrose likely will start.

Atlanta United has won three consecutive games since losing the season opener.

Martino said midfielders Oliver Shannon and Chris Goslin, and striker Jon Gallagher will play with Atlanta United 2 on Sunday at Coolray Field.