Minnesota United forward Abu Danladi has fallen into an abyss during his second MLS season. Now, Loons coach Adrian Heath and sporting director Manny Lagos must pull him out of it. All three are in this predicament together.

Lagos used the the Loons’ first overall pick in the 2017 SuperDraft on the speedy player from UCLA, believing that a professional training environment would help overcome injury problems that sidetracked him with the Bruins. Heath approved of the selection, the club’s first as an expansion franchise, touting his track record in developing goal scorers in Dom Dwyer and Cyle Larin during his tenure with Orlando City.

But because of five injuries this season — his left hamstring three times, right hamstring and right ankle once each — Danladi has played in only 15 percent of the Loons’ total minutes this season. His fourth hamstring injury this season will sideline him for Saturday’s match between Minnesota (10-16-3) and New York City (15-8-8) at TCF Bank Stadium.

“It’s been a very frustrating year for me, especially because I got so excited after last season,” Danladi said.

Danladi had hamstring and back problems as a rookie but finished with eight goals and three assists in 27 of the club’s 34 games and was runner-up for MLS Rookie of the Year. Heading into his sophomore season, Heath picked him to start over Christian Ramirez.

But Danladi pulled his hamstring 29 minutes into the opener and has rarely been right since. All told, Danladi has one goal and one assist in 410 minutes and has missed 15 of Minnesota’s 29 games. He has started five games but hasn’t played a full 90-minute match in 2018.

While the addition of forward Angelo Rodriguez, the club’s second high-priced Designated Player, was the chief reason for the team’s decision to trade Ramirez to Los Angeles on Aug. 6, so was confidence in Danladi as a reliable alternative in the attack. But he was an unused sub in a 2-0 loss Aug. 18 against Dallas, and not healthy enough to be more than a sub in a 2-0 loss to Kansas City on Aug. 25.

Heath’s frustration with Danladi’s injuries has bubbled to the surface a few times this season, and it returned Wednesday when he was asked if he had an injury update on Danladi.

“No. No,” he said. “He’s still — he’s progressing slowly.”

Lagos expressed support Wednesday, saying the club is trying to rally around the 22-year-old who showed glimpses of stardom a year ago. His right-footed blast at Montreal last September was a game-winner and was nominated for MLS goal of the week.

“He’s going through a tough time in his pro career and can’t quite get healthy and fit,” Lagos said. “We are playing it day-by-day, but it’s probably more like week-by-week to see if we can get him out on the field.”

Danladi is holding out hope to return to the field this season.

“It can be something that always brings you down, but the good thing is that I know it’s not (completely) torn, and it’s something that will go away,” Danladi said. “It could be worse.” Related Articles Loons’ late rally falls short in 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew

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But Danladi’s injury issues were known when the Loons used the top pick on him in January 2017.

“Listen, there is always concern about players’ injury history, and you try to do the best job to manage it and make sure that they feel comfortable with the environment to get healthy and fit,” Lagos said. “Again, it just hasn’t quite hit yet, but he’s had some great moments, too.

“So, our goal here is to … make sure to get him fit and healthy and get him back on the field as soon as possible so he can continue to grow and develop.”

Lagos’ patience is rooted here: “This guy could potentially be a great talent.”