Atlanta United's new Designated Player Marcelino Moreno has arrived in Atlanta and could be ready to make his debut for the Five Stripes against the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 10, interim head coach Stephen Glass said Thursday.
Moreno's transfer from Argentine club Lanus was announced on Sept. 22 but the player has been abiding by strict health and safety protocols and extensive testing before he is able to train in full with his new teammates.
"He's here and we’re looking forward to getting him on the grass when we can start working with him," Glass said during Atlanta's media availability ahead of the club's game at D.C. United on Saturday (7 pm ET | TV & streaming info). "I think at the moment we’re hopeful that the Red Bull game is real, that that target is there. I don’t see any reason why not with the length of time that he's been in the country. That would be great.
"One of the reasons that I've not seen him yet is how safe the club is with the interactions that he has," he continued. "So I don’t really have to be seeing him right now. The club’s been very very diligent as it has from the start and we’re doing everything we can and he’ll be ready when he’s ready. But I do think the Red Bull game is a realistic target and I think that will happen."
Atlanta could do with a creative boost after scoring just twice in their last three games to leave themselves languishing in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, one spot below the playoff line.
While a debut for Moreno will have to wait, Glass will be boosted by some notable injury returns on Saturday. The interim head coach said that of the four fitness concerns — Ezequiel Barco, Jurgen Damm, Matheus Rossetto and Miles Robinson — three would be available against D.C. United. As for which three, Glass wouldn't elaborate, declining, he said, to give an advantage to their opponents.
