As Miles Robinson did more calf-raises than one can imagine and worked through rehabbing his ruptured Achilles tendon, playing well enough to get called back into the U.S. men’s national team was among his goals.
Robinson was one of the reasons the U.S. qualified for the 2022 World Cup, one that he should have been playing at in Qatar if not for the injury he suffered last May while playing with Atlanta United against Chicago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“That’s definitely something that I looked forward to in my rehab, hoping to come back and represent the country,” Robinson said Tuesday.
Starting at right centerback in a four-man back line, Robinson has helped Atlanta United get off to the best start in franchise history – and among the best in MLS this season. Partially as a result, Robinson’s goal was achieved last week when he was called into the U.S. team by manager Anthony Hudson for Concacaf Nations League games at Grenada on Friday and against El Salvador in Orlando, Florida, on Monday. If Robinson plays in either game, it will be his 21st appearance for the U.S.
Robinson said he’s not going to predict if he will play.
“I’m just happy to be back competing with these guys and proving myself,” he said. “I don’t really think too far in the future. Personally, I kind of just take it day by day and focused on tomorrow’s session, trying to play my best, show what I can do to contribute to this team.”
Robinson was the only MLS player called up by Hudson, who said with a glut of games this year, this felt like the right time to start integrating Robinson back into the group.
“Given he is still coming back from his injury and it would be a challenge for him to play multiple games in a week both now and in April, this is the best chance to get him back on the field with the national team before the summer,” Hudson was quoted as saying by U.S. Soccer on March 15.
Robinson said he was very happy to see Hudson when he reported to training camp in Orlando.
“It was just one of those things that kind of boost your energy and boost self-confidence,” Robinson said. “Just being back and representing the country again.”
Though they’ve trained together once, Robinson looks as good as ever, according to teammate Tim Ream, who said he has watched some of Atlanta United’s games from England.
“To have him back in here with the group has been great,” Ream said. “And to watch him today in training, doing the things that he’s always done is, is a good sign because obviously up to the point of the injury, he was flying and he was a major part of the group and a major part of qualifying, so to have him back is only going to be a big positive for the team.”
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 770-810-5297.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today, you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. So sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.
Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
About the Author
