The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Martinez remains on injured list
Striker to sit against Orlando City, might not playuntil late August.
Atlanta United finds itself in a place that has become increasingly familiar: playing without
Josef Martinez.
The striker won’t play in Saturday’s home game against Orlando City, manager Gerardo Martino said Thursday, and he may also miss the next game at Sporting KC on Aug. 6.
Martinez has been an important player for the team (10-7-3) when he has been able to stay on the field. He has scored nine goals in nine league games, but has missed 11 games because of
injuries. The team is 4-4-3 when Martinez doesn’t play and 6-3-0 when he does. It averages 1.63 goals per game when Martinez doesn’t play and 2.44 when he does.
After starting the season with five goals in three games, Martinez missed the next 10 games after sustaining a thigh injury while playing with the Venezuelan national team.
He sustained a foot contusion in his second game back, a U.S. Open Cup game against Charleston. He played through the injury in the next five league games until it flared up before last week’s 1-0 win at Orlando City. He didn’t make the 18 for that game and was seen wearing a walking boot on the field during pregame activities.
He hasn’t participated in this week’s training sessions, but was seen at the team’s practice facility in Marietta on Thursday.
Martino said it’s more likely that Martinez won’t return until after the twoweek break in August, when the team plays at D.C. United on Aug. 23.
Martino wouldn’t commit to saying that Hector Villalba will move from the midfield to start at striker. Playing in Martinez’s place at striker, Villalba scored the winning goal against the Lions last week. He has filled in at striker several games this season in Martinez’s absence. Villalba is tied for the team lead with nine goals.
Martino could also play Brandon Vazquez at striker, or Julian Gressel, who has manned the spot for a few minutes previously this season, including during the 3-2 loss to Miami in the U.S. Open Cup.
Martino also said fullback Mark Bloom and forward Kenwyne Jones likely won’t return until after the break. Bloom has a back injury. Jones has right knee inflammation that flared up while on national team duty with Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, Andrew Carleton and Chris Goslin are with the U.S. Under-17 national team.
Midfielder Jacob Peterson returned to the squad this week after missing more than three months with a calf injury.