Back this week from a trip to Mexico to attend to immigration matters, Minnesota United star Darwin Quintero returned to Minnesota with his green card that allows him to live and work permanently in the United States.
That means he no longer will occupy one of United's international roster spots.
Each MLS team gets eight such spots, but United traded away one to Chicago. With Quintero no longer occupying one, United now has one international spot open for the rest of this season..
Those on that list currently on their MLS roster number six: Michael Boxall, Jan Gregus, Romaria Ibarra, Vito Mannone, Angelo Rodriquez and Romain Metanire.
Quintero was one of six players who have been away from the team during a bye week last week. He was gone to get to his green card while the other five went to play for their national teams during a FIFA international break.
United today wrapped up its training in Blaine for Saturday's game at New England with midfielder Rasmus Schuller questionable for Saturday's game at New England and with coach Adrian Heath again promising change after his team sputtered in the first half of a loss at L.A. Galaxy two weeks ago.
He's got designated player Rodriguez who has worked his way back to full fitness ready to return to a starting role. He's got Romario Ibarra – the starter up front the season's first three games – back on Thursday from duty with the Ecuadorian national team. And he's got young Abu Danladi prepared to play more, too, after providing energy as a second-half sub that got his team back in the game in Los Angeles.
"We've got options," Heath said. "At this stage, you're always pleased you've got options. We could change it around. We could play a 4-3-3. We could play two up top and one underneath if we wanted. But there will be a couple changes from maybe the L.A. game."
Schuller's availability is uncertain for Saturday against a New England team that has started the season 0-3-1.
Heath has said repeatedly that his biggest concern is that his five players away for international duty come back healthy. Schuller was hit on his thigh while away with the Finland national team and Heath called him a game-time decision Saturday.
Veteran Ethan Finlay has been in Heath's ear since training in Orlando about getting a starting job back in his return from knee surgery done early last season.
"He just wants to play," Heath said. "He has worked hard enough to put himself in position. We'll see on Saturday what we go with.
Romario Ibarra, Slovakia national team member Gregus, Madagascar's Metanire have returned to Blaine healthy. Costa Rica's Francisco Calvo is expected to join the team in Boston on Friday.
United again will send Mason Toye, Carter Manley, Wyatt Omsberg and Dayne St. Clair to their Forward Madison affiliate for a Saturday game at Marquette.
