Miles Robinson provides injury update
Miles Robinson is set to return to action, after being sidelined in May 2022 with an Achilles tendon injury.
The Atlanta United figure suffered a non-contact injury to his left ankle in the team’s 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on May 7, 2022. The defender collapsed onto the artificial turf of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the 14th minute of the match, and was subsequently stretched off the pitch. He slammed the field in frustration, while signaling his left leg to the coaching staff.
Robinson underwent surgery for the torn ligament, facing months of rehabilitation to miss the second half of the 2022 MLS campaign and World Cup with the US men’s national team.
“It was a long process. You gotta take it one day at a time, one step at a time. It's definitely taught me more about patience, I think. But it’s going well, and I definitely feel healthy now,” he said in an exclusive interview with 90min.
“Definitely [there’s a mental component to the recuperation.] With a long injury like that, where you can't be out on the field for a long period of time, you definitely have to change your mindset towards some things. But my support system was very strong during this whole period, friends, family, coaching staff, athletic trainers, they all did the best they could to put me in a good place mentally so I am definitely grateful for them.”
But now, he’s back and ready to face the 2023 campaign with Atlanta United.
“I feel good, I feel healthy. I am so excited to get back out there with my team this season. I am most excited about being out on the field in front of the Atlanta United fans at Mercedes-Benz stadium. I think that's something that I’ve looked forward to for a long time at this point,” he said with a smile on his face.
“I am just hoping to continue my upward projection, like I have over the last few years. I am excited to get on the pitch and prove myself again.”
Atlanta United face an uphill battle after struggling in 2022. The team concluded the season in 11th place on the Eastern Conference table with 40 points in 34 games and a record of 10W-14L-10D to miss out on playoffs.
But head coach Gonzalo Pineda is confident the return of Miles Robinson will boost the team in 2023. The defender played an integral part of Pineda's game plan before the injury, starting eight of nine games before the ruptured tendon.
Overall, he’s managed one goal and one assist for Atlanta United in 96 games since debuted in 2018.
Miles Robinson and Atlanta United are set to kick off the 2023 campaign on February 25 when hosting the San Jose Earthquakes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia.