ATL Standard

Atlanta United has released its first availability report for the upcoming season, confirming that all designated players are set to participate in Saturday's home opener. Among them is Emmanuel Latte Lath, a center forward from Middlesbrough FC in England, who is expected to make his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut.

Returning to Atlanta United after six seasons in the English Premier League is Miguel Almirón. Almirón previously won the 2018 MLS Cup with the team and will aim for his 50th career goal contribution in MLS during this season. The presence of these key players is generating significant excitement among fans as Atlanta United embarks on its ninth season in MLS.

"Mentally going into it, it's a sense of readiness and one we're looking forward to," stated goalkeeper Brad Guzan on Thursday.

However, the team faces challenges with injuries affecting their defense. Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador are out, while Derrick Williams remains questionable. To address this, Atlanta United has signed Dominik Chong Qui on a short-term basis. Known for his performance with Atlanta United 2, Chong Qui has played over 1,100 minutes in MLS NEXT Pro during 2024 and participated actively in preseason matches.

Matt Edwards might also make his first MLS start as a defender alongside Ronald Hernández. Head coach Ronny Deila commented on their performance: "Ronald has been better and better... Matt is just getting better and better."

Stian Gregersen returns from an injury sustained against Orlando City SC during the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year. He has been training well and participated competitively against FC Dallas recently.

The anticipation builds as Atlanta United prepares for its season opener with an expected crowd of over 60,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.