Atlanta United will play without several players who are injured for Saturday’s MLS game at Columbus, manager Frank de Boer said Thursday.
Among the players who will miss Saturday’s game, but are expected back next week, are Pity Martinez (hamstring), Florentin Pogba (hamstring), Kevin Kratz (calf) and possibly George Bello (groin).
Martinez sustained his injury while with the Argentina national team during the recently concluded international break. He was seen jogging around the training fields Thursday while the rest of the healthy players trained.
Martinez, a midfielder/striker, has appeared in three MLS games, including two starts. He also appeared in the four Champions League games. He has yet to score or record an assist. In his place, de Boer could turn to Hector Villalba, Andrew Carleton or push Darlington Nagbe higher up the field.
Bello, a fullback and a Douglasville resident, started the first Champions League at Herediano on Feb. 21, was then reported to have suffered an injury, started one game for Atlanta United 2 on March 9, and hasn’t played since. He is listed as week-to-week.
Pogba, a centerback, also played for Atlanta United 2 on March 9 and then came off the bench for Atlanta United in the second leg of its Champions League against Monterrey on March 13.
Captain Michael Parkhurst didn’t participate in all of Thursday’s training session because of an illness he experienced Wednesday. He is expected to be fine for Saturday.
Chris Goslin, a midfielder who like Bello is a Homegrown Player, hasn’t participated in training with the first team or Atlanta United 2 this season. He is recovering from a knee injury. He is listed as week to week and is expected to join Atlanta United 2 next week.
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