Minnesota United must make two changes to the starting lineup before Saturday’s game against FC Dallas, and the emergence of newcomer Romario Ibarra could make it three.

The Ecuadorian winger’s game-tying goal in the 84th minute helped produce a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy last Saturday, and his improved fitness over three games with Minnesota bodes well for his first start as a Loon.

“Romario is getting better,” United coach Adrian Heath said Tuesday. “He’s at a situation now where we might think about starting him because his weight is down and his conditioning is a lot better, so we have a decision to make on him at the weekend.”

Defensive midfielder Collen Warner reached his yellow-card accumulation when he was booked in the 75th minute in Los Angeles, and captain center back Francisco Calvo was booked with yellow cards in the 66th and 89th minutes. Both players will serve mandatory absences in the game at Dallas (12-5-6), the Western Conference leader.

Heath doesn’t believe Calvo’s yellow card for time wasting was warranted with a tie game in the balance.

“I think he had been warned that anything else he was going to get the boot, so it was disappointing, really,” Heath said. “But he didn’t want to give him the ball back because actually we had been attacking, and it was a counter-attack. But I still thought it was a little bit harsh. You see that type of thing every week.”

With Warner and Calvo out, Minnesota could switch from the 3-5-2 formation the team has used the past nine games. The Loons have 1.44 points per game using that formation, up from 1.06 using primarily Heath’s 4-2-3-1 set-up in the first 15 games.

“It could be,” Heath said about a possible formation change. “We’ll have a good sit-down and go over all the Dallas stuff, and we’ll see where that leaves us in terms of formation for the weekend.”

D-MID WORKING OUT WITH LOONS

Brazilian defensive midfielder Fernando Bob was on trial with the Loons in Blaine on Tuesday, a source confirmed. If Bob impresses, the Loons could sign him as soon as this week, the source said.

While the summer transfer window closed Aug. 8, MLS clubs can sign out-of-contract players through Sept. 14, and Bob would address an area of the field Minnesota needs help.

Bob, 30, has played for many clubs in Brazil, most recently on loan for Internacional in the country’s Serie A league.

OWUNDI EKO’O ON LOAN

Cameroonian centerback Bertrand Owundi Eko’o has been put on loan to the Charlotte Independence of the lower-level United Soccer League for the rest of the season, Heath said. He played in the international friendly against Costa Rican club Saprirssa on July 11 but has not played in an MLS game for Minnesota this year. Related Articles Loons’ late rally falls short in 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew

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Fullback Carter Manley has not played in two August games while on loan with the Las Vegas Lights. United is waiting to see if he gets some action in Wednesday’s game versus Orange County before determining if there’s another lower-level club that would be a better fit.

Forward Mason Toye started and played 72 minutes for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday. He returned to train with the Loons on Tuesday, and is expected to rejoin Colorado soon.

BRIEFLY

Fullback Jerome Thiesson (calf) was training with the first team Tuesday, but Heath said they are cautious because he’s reached this point in his rehab only to have setbacks.