Minnesota United goalkeeper John Alvbage lost his starting spot in net two months ago, but his role as a backup has only deepened his resolve to remain with the Loons.

The Swedish goalkeeper’s loan with the Loons expires July 15, with a Minnesota option to extend the loan for 18 months through next season. If the Loons decline the option, he will return to IFK Goteborg in Sweden’s top league.

“I’m here supporting the team and having a positive attitude and trying to be a really professional player,” Alvbage told the Pioneer Press on Tuesday. “I’m more than ready to play.”

Minnesota is one of four Major League Soccer teams in the 22-team league with two goalies among the top 20 best-paid netminders in the league, per sportrac.com. At $247,000, Alvbage is the eighth-highest paid goalie in MLS, while current starter Bobby Shuttleworth’s $171,000 salary ranks 15th.

Alvbage said he doesn’t recall being a backup at any other time in his 18-year pro career. He started the first two games this season, allowing 10 goals. The eye-popping defeats were chalked up to systemic errors from the entire team.

Late in a 6-1 loss to Atlanta in the home opener on March 13, he suffered a deep cut to his leg. While recuperating, Alvbage lost his starting spot before a 2-2 draw with Colorado — the Loons’ first point as an MLS club — and never regained his spot.

“I respect it that I’m not playing, but I can’t accept it because in my mind I want to play,” Alvbage said.

Against Houston on April 15, Shuttleworth suffered a concussion and cut that required six stitches over his right eye just before halftime. Alvbage came on to produce a second-half shutout in a 2-2 road draw with the Dynamo.

Alvbage has sat out the other eight games for the Loons (3-6-2), including a 2-0 win over Kansas City during which Shuttleworth broke his nose but remained in the game.

“If I do something, I do it 100 percent,” Alvbage said. “If I leave (Minnesota) now, what have I been showing, like 10 percent? It’s so far away from 100 percent. I want to stay and show my qualities and help the team.”

Alvbage, 34, doesn’t want his age to be considered a detriment to his future in Minnesota.

“This is what I’m afraid of: When you come to the states and people think that you are up in the age,” Alvbage said. “I have the (ability) to play to when I’m 40, hopefully, if nothing happens.”

SECOND IMPRESSIONS

Heath said United’s 3-2 loss to Toronto on Saturday looked better on film. The Loons tied it 2-2 in the 62nd minute, but the Reds, the Eastern Conference’s first-place team, won it with a goal in the 77th minute.

“We were good,” Heath said. “Large periods of the game, I was really pleased with some of the stuff we did. The way we set the team up, I thought, worked really, really well.”

Heath said one goal came on what should have been a foul. Toronto’s Chris Mavinga was holding Ramirez at the far post, the ball hit off Ramirez’s leg for an own goal in the 54th minute.

BRIEFLY

Rookie Abu Danladi had an ice pack on his right shoulder after Tuesday’s light training session, but Heath said he expects him to be available for Sunday’s 4 p.m. kickoff against the Los Angeles Galaxy at TCF Bank Stadium. … Defender Joe Greenspan, on loan to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, was named to the United Soccer League’s team of the week for the second time in May. He is expected to rejoin Minnesota in mid-June.