Atlanta United midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who just this week resumed training with the team after a long injury layoff, will travel with the squad to its upcoming games at Colorado on Saturday and at San Jose on Sept. 19.
Nagbe, who suffered a strained adductor in a draw with Portland in June, will be one of 22 players who will travel, manager Gerardo Martino said on Thursday.
Nagbe was acquired in a trade with Portland in Dec. 2017. He has 17 starts for the Five Stripes this season.
“If he thinks that he’s OK to start or come off the bench, those are talks we will continue to have,” Martino said. “But with a player like Darlington, he’s so gifted technically, those are things that he’s not going to lose. With him, it’s just mostly a matter of fitness.”
Captain Michael Parkhurst said Nagbe’s fitness has been impressive in training sessions.
“He’s looked good, he’s looked sharp, he’s looked strong,” Parkhurst said. “I don’t want to speak for anyone, but he’ll play sooner rather than later.”
Martino didn’t shed any light on how he will select 11 starters from a roster that may be the deepest in MLS with the returns of Nagbe, fullback Franco Escobar and midfielder\fullback Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu.
When Nagbe was healthy, the team used a 3-5-2 formation. Martino said he could bring that back. After Nagbe’s injury on June 24, Martino started using the 4-2-3-1 formation he used most of last season.
“It’s a challenge when you have as many talented players as we do and can all play in those positions, especially in the midfield,” Martino said. “We will see what we do.”
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