The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Striker Martinez leaves practice after collision

Potential absence has team looking to fill scoring gap.

- By Doug Roberson droberson@ajc.com

Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez left Wednesday’s training session with an apparent injury to his left arm.

Trainers put what appeared to be an aircast on the arm. The potential injury was sustained during a finishing drill late during Wednesday’s session when Martinez and a teammate collided. A team spokesman said it’s too early for a diagnosis or prognosis.

Atlanta United will host unbeaten NYCFC on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Martinez’s potential absence could deal a huge blow to the Five Stripes because he is the most prolific striker in MLS history with 24 goals in his first 25 games. He has five goals this season.

If Martinez can’t play, manager Gerardo Martino could turn to Romario Williams, who scored his first MLS goal in last week’s 5-0 win against LAFC, or Jon Gallagher, who has three goals for Atlanta United 2. Hector Villalba also is an option, but he didn’t train Tuesday or Wednesday.

Ezequiel Barco didn’t participat­e in training Wednesday because it was a scheduled day off for him. Tuesday was his first time training with the team after sustaining a quad injury Feb. 26 ahead of the season-opening game at Houston. Defender Franco Escobar also didn’t train Tuesday. He sustained a concussion in the second half of the win against Vancouver on March 17 that has prevented him from participat­ing.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States