Minnesota United has now lost two attacking midfielders to torn knee ligaments this season.

Winger Ethan Finlay snapped the anterior cruciate in his right knee in the first half of Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Seattle and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season, the club said Tuesday.

The Duluth, Minn., native has been a face of the franchise this season, featured in TV ads and FSN promotions. The seven-year veteran is a member of the MLS Players Association executive board; he’s become a locker-room leader since being acquired in a trade from Columbus Crew last August and played in 570 of a total 585 minutes before the injury.

Finlay, 27, follows winger Kevin Molino, who tore the ACL in his left knee in the 2-1 win over Orlando on March 10. He and Molino were tied with a team-high two goals this season.

Add in defensive midfielder Sam Cronin, who has been sidelined indefinitely since preseason with reoccurring concussion symptoms, and the Loons (2-5) are missing three key veterans from a team pushing for the playoffs after finishing ninth in the 11-team Western Conference last season.

“It’s anther big blow for us,” coach Adrian Heath said after Tuesday’s training session in Blaine. “… Three important pieces for us. Just as you get another body in — Alexi (Gomez) has arrived (Tuesday) and started training with the team — another one drops out.”

Finlay, a former member of the U.S. men’s national team, will have surgery “in the coming days,” the club said. The timing of the injury comes at an inopportune time for Minnesota to try to add another player before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.

“It might be a little bit late, but, hey, you never know,” Heath said. “One or two people are ringing around, so we’ll see what happens. In terms of the situation, it (couldn’t) have happened at a worse time with only a couple of days left.”

Finlay was injured when he collided with Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan in the 37th minute Sunday at CenturyLink Field. He returned to the game, but was replaced by Sam Nicholson at the half.

“It’s devastating,” United forward Christian Ramirez said. “You got one (player lost for the season) in Kevin already, and you got a second in Ethan. Somehow he managed to go 10 more minutes on it. It’s just a blow for us because he’s such a lively guy in the locker room and on the field. He bring so much experience in this league. It will be a tough loss.”

Roldan was called for a foul, but no card was given.

GIF: #MNUFC's Ethan Finlay is believed to have torn the ACL in his right knee on this play against Sounders' Alex Roldan on Sunday in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/Kf5rQqFgJz — Andy Greder (@andygreder) April 24, 2018

“To be honest, I can’t really remember much about it,” Heath said of the Finlay-Roldon play. “It was a little bit late, but I’ll have to see it again.”

Finlay started all seven Loons games this season. He was named to the MLS team of the week after scoring two goals against Orlando on March 10.

After arriving from Columbus, Finlay played 11 games for the Loons last season, registering three goals and three assists. He scored in his Loons debut at Seattle last August. Related Articles Loons’ Adrian Heath, Kei Kamara believe they can strike simpatico partnership

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The loss of Finlay comes as new designated player Darwin Quintero is becoming more acclimated with the other pieces of Minnesota’s attack in his first two weeks with United. The injury could mean more opportunities for Nicholson, Miguel Ibarra and Frantz Pangop.

“Ethan is a very important player for this team and we are all very sad about the news,” Quintero said through a translator. “But there are other guys that are ready to step up and contribute.”

Another possible contributor is Gomez, a loanee from Universitaro in Lima, Peru, who took part in his first training session Tuesday. Gomez is considered a multi-positional player who could first play left fullback but also has experience at left wing and at central attacking midfielder.

Heath didn’t say if the Finlay injury changes plans for the position Gomez first tries to play for Minnesota.

“Alexi just had his first day,” Heath said. “He arrived at the weekend and he’s had flu since he’s been here, so he’s been a little under the weather. We’ll have to see how he is at the end of the week. Obviously, to come in and play a straight 90 minutes would be a tough ask, but we’ll see.”

Finlay’s ACL tear isn’t the only injury Minnesota suffered during the Seattle game. Striker Abu Danladi injured his ankle against the Sounders and was subbed out in the second half Sunday. Like Finlay, Danladi had further tests on his ankle Monday and he was not spotted at United’s training session Tuesday.

“He got a kick at the weekend,” Heath said. “It’s day-to-day for the weekend, I would think.”