Atlanta United fullback Greg Garza will not play in Sunday’s 4 p.m. game at Portland.
The decision is a precautionary measure because of a bothersome hip, which has required surgery in the past. He is expected to return for the following game.
Garza started the previous nine games.
“Just feeling some little pinches,” Garza said. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
His absence could mean the first start of the season for Mikey Ambrose.
“I want to be in every game and play in every second, but this is a good moment for me to rest the hip and hopefully be 100 percent for the next game,” Garza said.
Additionally, Andrew Carleton and Chris Goslin won’t be available for the 18. They recently returned from World Cup qualifying with the U.S. Under-17 national team. Manager Gerardo Martino said they will return next week.
Lastly, Josef Martinez, the team’s leading scorer, has yet to begin training with the team. He has been out since mid-March after picking up a thigh injury while with the Venezuelan national team.
“We will be careful monitoring Josef’s return,” manager Gerardo Martino said. “It will be a progression getting him back into the lineup.”
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