It wasn’t expressed with confidence, but Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said “We’ll see” when asked if Josef Martinez could return to the 18 for Sunday’s game against NYCFC at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Martino said Martinez will be monitored Thursday, Friday and Saturday before a decision is made. Martinez didn’t train with the rest of the team on Thursday. He has trained individually.
Martinez, tied with Miguel Almiron for the team lead in goals (5), hasn’t played since the season’s third game. He sustained a thigh injury while playing for the Venezuelan national team.
Martinez, 24, was orginally acquired on loan from Torino in Italy, and the team announced the signing was permanent on March 21. He is a Designated Player.
Winger Jacob Peterson, who hasn’t played since the season’s fourth game, will likely be out another week, according to Martino. Peterson, signed as a free agent in the offseason, has one goal in three appearances. It came at Minnesota United. The 31-year-old has made one start.
Following NYCFC, Atlanta United will next play at Vancouver on June 3, which when both players could return.
In place of Martinez, Martino has played Hector Villalba and Kenwyne Jones as the lone striker in the 4-3-3 formation. Of Villalba's four goals, two were scored as the striker. Both of Jones' goals were scored as the striker.
Jones played striker when Atlanta United last played NYCFC, a 3-1 defeat at Yankee Stadium on May 7.
