Minnesota United's Emanuel Reynoso ready to play; Saturday's role uncertain

Coach Adrian Heath wouldn't specify how much, if at all, Reynoso would play against Toronto after coming off his suspension.

June 2, 2023 at 11:00PM
Minnesota United midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, center, could make his 2023 debut as soon as Saturday’s match against Toronto. (Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Saturday: 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto * Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, 1500-AM

Rey's return: At long last, midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, suspended for not joining Minnesota (5-6-4) at the start of this season, will "be in the squad tomorrow," coach Adrian Heath said. Pressed for specifics, Heath remained coy, saying, "It means in the squad." Reynoso is eager to get back on the field, but Heath and the coaches will be sure to monitor just how many minutes, if any, are appropriate given Reynoso's fitness level.

Moneyball: Toronto (3-5-8) owns the league's most expensive roster with a price tag of more than $25 million. "You look at them on paper and they've got a lot of really good players," Heath said, before rattling off names such as Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, players who logged minutes with Juventus, a club in the top tier of the Italian football league system. "They have guys who can pull rabbits out of hats," defender Zarek Valentin said. "So even if the team collectively might not be breaking you down, individual moments can happen."

Familiar face: Heath drafted Toronto defender Richie Laryea when he was coaching Orlando City. Laryea has emerged a threat to create offense. "What he's done is a lesson to a lot of kids," Heath said. "He had to go to Toronto's second team to sort of relaunch his career and he's done fantastic."

about the writer

about the writer

David La Vaque

Reporter

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

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