Report: Midfielder Jay Fortune likely out for the season

One of Atlanta United fans' only sources of joy this season has been taken away.

Well folks.

Jay Fortune is probably out for the year. That’s according to a report today from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson after speaking to head coach Ronny Deila today, who briefed media with the update.

There’s no official word yet from the team, likely because the player suffered the injury last night while on international duty and has yet to undergo an official medical assessment from the club’s own medical staff.

The good news only possible way to not want to inflict harm to oneself or to those in close proximity is that the injury is to the foot, which tends not to have as long of a timeline for recovery nor complications upon returning to play (though these can’t be ruled out). Five Stripe Final understands that Fortune is likely in need of a surgical procedure for the injury to heal properly.

Reading into the “likely” language as it relates to missing the season, I suspect the timetable for the injury is a few months or so, coinciding with season’s end. But in that case, it seems foolish to rush him back onto the field for a team with such little prospects as Atlanta is likely to have.

This leaves Deila with a selection headache in one area that seemed locked down. Though he’s unlikely to be a like-for-like replacement for Fortune in Deila’s current 3-5-2 system, Homegrown Player Will Reilly could be in line to receive more playing time. Deila could opt to return to a traditional double pivot in midfield with Reilly and Bartek Slisz shielding a back four.

But yeah, anyway.