Some welcome news for Atlanta United fans this morning in regards to the injury status of left back Greg Garza. In a radio interview on the 92.9 Morning Show with John and Hugh, Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said Garza will only be out of action for 7-10 days. That means the U.S. international defender is only expected to miss one match, the showdown against Sporting Kansas City this Sunday.
Some fans feared the worst after a rough tackle in the opening three minutes forced Garza off the field early in Wednesday night’s MLS All-Star Game. League officials confirmed that the injury was a separated right shoulder, an injury with layoff times varying from days to months, depending on the severity. Garza left Chicago in a sling as a precaution, but Friday’s news means the injury is on the mild side.
Garza has started every match but one so far for Atlanta United this year, and he’s become a crucial part of not only the team’s defense but also its attack. The team has three clean sheets in its last five matches – with only three goals conceded in that stretch – while Garza leads the league in chances created for a defender with 26 and has also notched a goal and three assists so far this year. While he will miss the next match, he is expected to make his return for their next fixture against D.C. United on August 23rd.
After the three-game road trip, Atlanta United will return for a six-game home stand to kickoff their stay at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tickets are sold out for the home opener, but you can purchase tickets for the following match, against the New England Revolution on September 13th, here.
