Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath felt his team lacked “conviction” in a 2-0 loss to Chicago on Saturday but isn’t ready to measure the Loons’ full mettle just yet.

Heath has said from the season’s onset he won’t get a full read on his team until the Loons have played as many games in Allianz Field as they have on the road. He reiterated that Tuesday.

After playing host to Columbus and Houston over the next two weeks, the Loons (4-4-3) will have played seven road games and six at home. It starts Saturday against Columbus (5-7-1) at 7 p.m. The Crew have lost six of its past seven games and have scored only five goals in that stretch.

Heath’s long-range view of his club is more positive than the short-term. United has one win in its past five matches (1-2-2) and has scored only two goals in their past four. Yet Minnesota remains in the thick of the MLS Cup playoff race.

Four Western Conference teams are separated by four points or less: Minnesota is sixth with 15 points; Real Salt Lake has 13; Vancouver 12; San Jose 11. Houston, ahead of that pack with 19 points, visits Allianz Field on May 25.

“If we go and pick up four points in the next two games, or six points, people will be saying, ‘You had a great start because we will be in the playoff (picture),’ ” Heath said. “We know the next two games are important to us.”

That positive message has been shared with his players.

“He’s right to remind us we’ve done some positive stuff,” goalkeeper Vito Mannone said. “We need to remember that we’ve won on the road, something (this club) hasn’t done (before). We keep two clean sheets in a row, which this club has never done. It’s a lot of things.”

IBARRA AT LEFT BACK?

When defender Francisco Calvo was traded to Chicago on May 3, attacking winger Miguel Ibarra was mentioned as a possible replacement at left fullback.

On Saturday when Eric Miller, who had replaced Calvo since April 24, was subbed out, Ibarra tracked back to left fullback.

“Whether it’s something that we look at on a more-regular basis remains to be seen,” Heath said.

As more clubs scout Minnesota, right fullback Romain Metanire stands out. Chicago took notice and moved Pzemyslaw Frankowski to try to contain him. Because Miller is less of a threat to join the attack than Calvo did, other teams could do the same.

Ibarra reintroduces that wide threat.

“Putting Miggy there and having another forward (Romario Ibarra) might give us a bit more momentum down that side,” Heath said. “I thought it did a little bit.”

BRIEFLY

Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth (knee) and defender Chase Gasper (hamstring/back) did not participate in training Tuesday. … The Loons have welcomed a few college players to training this week. Their names were not shared. … United’s Under-14 captain Jonah Gasho met first-team captain Ozzie Alonso after Tuesday’s training session for a quick photo opp. The little Loons will play in the Manchester City Cup from May 23-27 in Oceanside, Calif.