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Bobby Shuttleworth missed Minnesota United practice Wednesday at the National Sports Center to have an operation on his broken nose.

The starting goalkeeper endured a kick to the face in the 2-0 win against Sporting Kansas City on May 7 but stayed in the match and also played in this past weekend's 3-2 loss at Toronto FC wearing a protective mask. He'll likely persevere again 4 p.m. Sunday against the LA Galaxy at TCF Bank Stadium.

"The bone's shattered, so I don't know how long it will take. But seeing that nose, he'll probably be in for about three weeks trying to get that working," coach Adrian Heath joked. "But, no, hopefully he'll be all right in the morning, and we'll get him back on Friday."

United actually had a surplus of goalkeepers despite Shuttleworth's absence, though. The team had Brendan Rennie, a Wayzata native who is readying for his junior season at Central Florida, and Joseph Melong, a Canada native also readying for his junior season at Stetson, training with goalkeeper coach Marius Rovde on Wednesday. Both are products of Shattuck St. Mary's.

"Couple of kids from college who are local guys," Heath said. "We've brought them in, which is nice. It gives our goalkeepers a touch of rest, and let's them have a little feel of what being in a professional environment is like."

And to continue with the goalkeeping theme, Heath also gave an update on draftee Alec Ferrell out of Wake Forest. United has not signed Ferrell, who is still dealing with an injury, but retains his rights.

"It's just a case of we're waiting on Alec," Heath said. "He's got a lot of stuff to work out, degenerative knee. I think the last time we spoke, it was a case of waiting and waiting again. So hopefully, we'll get some more information. And for the kid's sake, he gets a little bit of a green light, a little bit of a light at the end of the tunnel because its not been easy for him."

Other than Shuttleworth, everyone was present and accounted for at training. Check out the videos below for more from Heath and midfielder Kevin Molino. Heath also said midfielder Rasmus Schuller, who made the team for the first time in a while against Toronto after a hip flexor injury setback, is looking better and sharper again.

"Hopefully, he's another one who can force himself into the group," Heath said. "But it's not going to be easy at the minute."