After it signed a youth academy player to a pro contract for the first time in January, Minnesota United is now introducing a second promising prospect to training with the Loons’ first team.

Patrick Weah — the nephew of George Weah and cousin of Timothy Weah — is on the Loons’ Under-17 development academy team and has been training this week with the MLS team as they prepare to play the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. His first training sessions with United came in preseason camp in Blaine.

Weah follows goalkeeper Fred Emmings, a 15-year-old St. Paul native who signed an MLS homegrown contract with the Loons in January. Emmings trains with the first team regularly as the club is figuring out where he can receive consistent playing time, including in his expected call-up within Luxembourg’s national system this year.

Weah’s relatives have impressive resumes in soccer. George won the Ballon d’Or, the prestigious award given to the world’s best player, while with AC Milan in Italy in 1995. After a 15-year pro career with top European teams, he become president of his native Liberia in 2018.

Timothy, who was born in New York, is considered one of the top U.S. men’s national team prospects. The 20-year-old was with Paris Saint-Germain and is now with French club Lille, but has been ruled out of the Ligue 1 season with a hamstring injury.

Patrick, a 16-year-old striker, is in his first year with the Loons’ academy after playing for Wayzata High School. With 20 goals and 15 assists in 2017, he led the Trojans to the Class AA championship, and he captured the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year Award. He’s now living in Maple Grove.

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Weah received a handshake from head coach Adrian Heath before training Wednesday and then participated in drills against Loons defensive starters Ike Opara and Michael Boxall in the session.

At 6-1 and a muscular 180 pounds, Weah physically fits right in with the pros and will be a young Loons’ player to keep an eye on.

BRIEFLY

United starting right back Romain Metanire has an illness and didn’t participate in training Wednesday. He was replaced by Hassani Dotson in portions of training open to the media. A bug has been going around the club, with assistant coach Ian Fuller also missing Wednesday’s session. The Loons leave for California early Thursday morning and could have some absences on the trip. … Loons backup goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh remains in Canada working on his immigration paperwork, meaning Dayne St. Clair remains recalled from his loan and is a candidate to travel with the club this weekend.