Kelvin Yeboah, Carlos Harvey to miss remainder of Loons' regular season

The Loons will be without two key players for the remainder of the regular season and potentially longer.

Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay said Friday that they'll be without the team's leading goal scorer Kelvin Yeboah (hamstring) and star defender Carlos Harvey (knee) for rest of the regular season.

Yeboah left Wednesday's loss in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals in the first half with a hamstring injury. After selling Tani Oluwaseyi to Spanish club Villarreal in August, the Loons were left relying on Yeboah as their leading forward. The 25-year-old leads the team in goals this season with 13 across all competitions. 

However, he's been in massive goal drought, having not scored in the previous eight matches. In league play, Yeboah has not scored a goal from the run of play since July 12. He scored two in St. Louis on July 26 but both were from the penalty spot.

Without Yeboah, the Loons could turn to young forward Momo Dieng, whom they acquired in August from USL Championship side Hartford Athletic. If the club isn't ready to put the brunt of the attacking responsibilities on the 21-year-old still acclimating to the club, they could look for Bongokuhle Hlongwane to move up into the forward spot, which he did late in Wednesday's game. 

Another option would be the club's all-time leading goal contributor Robin Lod, but forward is not his natural position.

Harvey, 25, has been one of the Loons' most versatile players this season, starting in both central defense and central midfield, while often switching between the two during matches. 

Harvey's knee injury appears to be more long term, with several reports out of his native Panama stating he will miss the nation's upcoming World Cup qualifier matches in October and November. If that is the case, Harvey would miss the regular season and the MLS Cup playoffs. The Minnesota Star Tribune's Jon Marthaler reported Friday that Harvey is having surgery to repair his injury.

With Harvey out, Jefferson Diaz looks to slot in as the right center back in the Loons' five-man backline. New midfielder Nectar Triantis, who has already made his mark in limited minutes since joining in August, could see more time at center back, a position he played in previous stops, though the club have made clear they see him more as a central midfielder.

The Loons have already qualified for the playoffs. With just four games remaining in the season, Minnesota is just two points back of San Diego FC for the top spot in the Western Conference, and only three points back of Philadelphia Union for the top spot in the Supporters Shield race.