Inter Miami are putting in the final preparations for this weekend’s huge MLS play-off tie against Atlanta United.
The best-of-three series is currently tied and 1-1 after Xande Silva’s last-minute winner for the Five Stripes last weekend, with Inter Miami now one loss away from a shock exit in the MLS play-offs.
With Sergio Busquets likely to miss the game for Inter Miami, the Herons will be without a key player in what will be their biggest game of the year, with MLS Cup glory on the line having already won the Supporters’ Shield.
And Inter Miami could be without another key player against Atlanta.
Yannick Bright a major doubt for Inter Miami vs Atlanta United
According to Michelle Kaufman, Yannick Bright is a major doubt for Inter Miami after the 23-year-old midfielder injured his hamstring last weekend at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Atlanta.
Pundit Matt Doyle hailed Bright’s impact at Inter Miami this year as ‘insane’ after the MLS SuperDraft pick established himself as one of the most important players in Tata Martino’s system, with the youngster pushing Busquets into central defense.
With Federico Redondo hopeful that Bright will be fit enough to play for Inter Miami, the Milan-born player’s absence will be felt if the midfielder is out for the game this weekend, and all signs to point towards just that.
Kaufman said: “Yannick Bright left the game with a hamstring injury, it’s not expected to be a very serious injury, but as we know, anyone who follows sports knows that hamstrings are tricky, especially in soccer, so even if it’s a mild hamstring strain, I don’t know if he’s going to be available on Saturday.”
Which other Inter Miami players are currently out injured?
With Bright and Busquets major doubts for Inter Miami, the Herons will be looking light in the defensive midfield position even with Redondo, Julian Gressel and Benjamin Cremaschi all still available for the Herons.
And beyond Bright and Busquets, Inter Miami will have another three players out injured for Saturday, with Nicolas Freire out with an ACL injury, David Ruiz absent until after the international break, and Facundo Farias returning to training having suffered a season-long injury.
Indeed, injuries have been a major problem for Inter Miami this season, and having five top players ruled out to face Atlanta is the last thing the Herons would have wanted going into this weekend’s must-win game.