Franco Escobar out 6-8 weeks with injury

Franco Escobar suffered a fractured right clavicle in Frank de Boer’s first full training session on Tuesday. The injury will keep the defender out for six to eight weeks, according to a release sent out by the club.

It’s a tough break for the 23-year-old Argentine defender who finished last season in the best form of his Atlanta United career and seemed to establish himself as a crucial player in Tata Martino’s starting XI.

The timing of the injury is the worst part of this injury. While it’s always difficult to miss time in preseason — the most important training time of the season for building a foundation of fitness — it’s even more crucial when it’s the perfect time to impress a new manager such as de Boer. The manager said as much himself just this week.

“This period, the preseason, is very important for us,” De Boer said in his press conference Monday. “(The players) understand that this is so important to the rest of the season. So if you’re not ready in preseason, it’s hard to catch up.”

Atlanta United’s first competitive match is Thursday, Feb. 21 vs. C.S. Herediano in Costa Rica. The team’s MLS campaign begins March 3 at Audi Field against D.C. United.