Team’s first draft pick patiently awaits turn

Robinson hasn’t played yet but says he doesn’t regret going pro early.

Miles Robinson, Atlanta United’s first draft pick, has yet to play this season for the MLS expansion team.

The central defender, selected No. 2 from Syracuse during the SuperDraft in Los Angeles in January, said he has no regrets about leaving school after two seasons to turn professional.

“I’m just trying to work hard and let Tata (Gerardo Martino) make the decision that he feels comfortable with,” Robinson said.

Robinson has made the 18-man roster for three of Atlanta United’s games, including last week’s 3-1 win at Real Salt Lake. The team will host D.C. United on Sunday at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Robinson said he knew that he needed to improve his technical skills when he turned pro. Playing behind Michael Parkhurst and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, who are very good passers and dribblers, has helped him learn.

Robinson said he frequently talks with both about passes

they’ve made, how they spotted space, and other aspects of the position in which he hopes to improve.

He said he also is improving in those areas because the training focuses on technical ability. It’s a different teaching regimen than he experienced at Syracuse because the style of play is different. The Orange wanted to get the ball into the opponent’s half, and win or keep possession there. Training focused on that.

Martino wants to keep possession no matter where the ball is. So, passes between defenders and even the goalkeeper are valued more than a long-ball approach.

“Miles has progressed a lot in his technical ability and circulating the ball out of the back as we start moving forward,” Pirez said. “Miles is a great player. He just needs to play more.”

Robinson’s strength, and one teammates have noticed, is his one-on-one defending.

“He’s really strong and takes the ball from a lot of people,” Pirez said. “He just needs to get experience and talk a little bit more. He’s going to be a great player with a lot of potential.”

Robinson said there’s always a little disappointment that he has yet to play, but he’s not worried.

“It’s nothing to hang your head on this early in the season and in my career,” he said. “It’s a matter of working hard and earning the spot that will come. I have to get better every day to do that.”