3/16 PRACTICE NOTES: Filling the void: Ibarra likely to replace Molino in starting XI

Coming off an unlikely road win, Minnesota United enters the weekend of its home opener in high spirits.

But the question on everyone’s mind is how will the Loons replace star man Kevin Molino, who the team announced this week suffered an ACL tear and will miss the remainder of the season.

United head coach Adrian Heath was straight to the point and said the selection will be between Miguel Ibarra and rookie Mason Toye for the attacking position either behind or next to Christian Ramirez. Heath said Abu Danladi (hamstring) has been ruled out due to injury.

Both Toye and Ibarra have looked bright thus far this season. Ibarra, a player who has been called up to the U.S. men’s national team, struggled to be consistently effective in his first season in Major League Soccer and his playing time was up and down as a result.

Ibarra is an explosive and incisive player when at his best and has looked more confident in possession already this season. Ibarra, 28, assisted Ethan Finlay on last weekend’s game-winning goal.

Longtime Loons fans will remember how devasting he was in the NASL, where he won MVP honors. This weekend could be a return to those halcyon days because he will get to do so with his old strike partner and good friend, Christian Ramirez. Ramirez seemed genuinely excited about the opportunity and highlighted how well he knows Ibarra’s movement on the pitch.

“It’s sort of a throwback to play with Miguel (in that position),” Ramirez said. “I’ll tell him to move freely and I’ll go anywhere else to make him comfortable because he’s at his best when he’s moving freely, running in behind and doing his thing. And I just feed off that.”

Either way, it’s a decent likelihood that Toye will feature, whether that be from the start or as a substitute. The No. 7 overall pick looked especially lively in his professional debut last week versus Orlando City, helping in the build-up to the second goal and nearly earning his team a penalty kick.

“Mason’s so raw that you tell him anything and he’ll go try and do it almost to a fault,” Ramirez said. “Either one works for me.”

New signing Luiz Fernando, arguably United’s highest-profile signing of the offseason, appeared to be a limited participant in practice today. As a defensive-minded midfielder, Fernando’s skills are something the Loons are often in short supply of, but especially so with injury troubles of Sam Cronin.

Heath comments after practice Friday hint that the Brazilian is doubtful this weekend’s match.

“We’ll take it day-to-day,” Heath said. “He’s coming off the back of an ACL (injury) and has had one or two little niggles. We’ll wait and see where he is next week/middle of next week.”

Sam Nicholson (hamstring) is also a doubt for this weekend. Heath said Bertrand Owundi Eko’o has finally passed through all the logistical hurdles and is now eligible for selection, though the same cannot be said for fellow Cameroonian Frantz Pangop, who is still awaiting paperwork approval.

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