Atlanta United (finally!) returns to MLS action this coming weekend in Philadelphia, where manager Gabriel Heinze has several key decisions to make in what will be a new-look starting XI after losing two of his key players.
Last week, the team lost one of it’s most ever-present midfielders in Emerson Hyndman to a torn ACL — undoubtedly a huge loss that will require some long term tactical rethinking. But in the short term, Heinze will be without star striker Josef Martinez, whose importance is obvious. Martinez (who has tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days despite having completed his vaccination in mid-April) will miss at least three Atlanta United games while away at the Copa America in Brazil with the Venezuelan national team.