Martinez might make trip — and play

Return would boost lineup missing players on national teams.

The possibility that Josef Martinez may travel with Atlanta United for Saturday’s game at Chicago will be determined by how well he responded to training Thursday, according to manager Gerardo Martino.

If Martinez responds well, he likely will travel. His availability as one of the 18 players selected as a starter or reserve for the game will be determined by how well he trains today and in pregame warmups.

Martinez hasn’t played since the season’s third game after sustaining a thigh injury while playing for the Venezuelan national team. The Designated Player and the one last signed by Atlanta United is tied for second on the team with five goals. Martinez did travel to Vancouver for last week’s game, but didn’t make the 18.

Though teammate Greg Garza said Martinez typically is the first to arrive at the team’s training center in Marietta and the last to leave, Martino said the striker isn’t bugging him to play. That may be good strategy because Martino said he prefers for players to show desire to play by their on-field performances.

Winger Jacob Peterson, out since the fourth game, will not return this week.

With no Peterson and possibly no Martinez, Atlanta United may be slightly depleted for Saturday’s game. Four more Atlanta United players currently are playing with national teams: Miguel Almiron (Paraguay), Kenwyne Jones (Trinidad and Tobago) and Andrew Carleton and Chris Goslin (both in U.S. Under-17 national

team camp).

Almiron and Paraguay played Peru in a friendly Thursday. He is scheduled to fly to Chicago today to rejoin Atlanta United. Martino said Almiron’s playing time for Paraguay, how he feels and his own instincts will determine how much he may play against Chicago. Almiron leads Atlanta United with seven goals.

Jones and Trinidad and Tobago played the U.S. on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying game, and Jones won’t be back against Chicago. With goalkeeper Brad Guzan playing for the U.S., one Atlanta United player is on each side. But that’s not why Martino said he won’t root for either team. He roots for only two teams: the one he is coaching and Newell’s Old Boys, for which he made almost 500 appearances as a player and later managed.

Jones’ absence means Brandon Vazquez might travel to Chicago, according to Martino. Vazquez has one goal; Jones has scored two.

Martino said he has no anxiety about players competing with national teams and implied it was simply bad luck Martinez was injured while with Venezuela.

“Players love playing for the national teams,” Martino said. “I would never feel comfortable telling a player he can’t play for their national team.”

Carleton and Goslin, the team’s first two Homegrown signings, are scheduled to return from Argentina on Monday. Martino said they should be eligible to be selected for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup game against Charleston at Kennesaw State.

The last time they were with the U.S. Under-17 national team, for the CONCACAF Championship in Panama, Martino gave them a week off to recover.