Minnesota United will be without one of its best players for Saturday’s home opener, and for a few weeks beyond that, too.
Left wingback Joseph Rosales is estimated to be out for two to three weeks, head coach Eric Ramsay told reporters Tuesday. The 24-year-old Honduran produced seven primary assists, played the second-most minutes on the team last season (2,399) and was rewarded with a contract extension through 2027.
In the season opener Saturday, Rosales substituted out at halftime of the 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC. Ramsay termed it a “muscle issue,” and Anthony Markanich replaced Rosales. Markanich was at least partially responsible in giving space on Jeremy Ebobisse’s game-winning goal from outside the box in the 78th minute.
“It could be better, it could be worse,” Ramsay said about Rosales’ timeline. “It’s one of those injuries that you can’t immediately tell how severe it is. He was 50-50 about going back on at halftime. I felt like, or got the impression that, it was best that I made the decision (to pull him) on his behalf.”
That decision might have saved Rosales from a more-significant injury.
“I’m thankful I did now because I feel like if he had gone back on (the field), then maybe three weeks becomes six weeks,” Ramsay said. “I think we got away relatively lightly with that.”
Markanich is the most likely fill-in for the short term. The Loons acquired him just before the close of the summer transfer window last August. MNUFC gave St. Louis City $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and could receive up to $100,000 in GAM based on his performance.
Markanich played 1,312 minutes for St. Louis last season, then 62 minutes in two regular-season games for Minnesota.
Devin Padelford is another option at left wingback. The Maplewood native played 1,598 minutes last season and was a part of the rotation in preseason, primarily at center back.
The Loons’ first game home game this season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against CF Montreal at Allianz Field.
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