Opara sidelined as Monnestart begin season training

Minnesota United began preseason training this week with most of its rostered players participating, but without two-time MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara.

Loons coach Adrian Heath earlier this winter expressed optimistic that Opara, 32, could return to play this season. He didn’t sound that way on Wednesday.

“Ike was feeling particularly good at the time, but at the moment he’s not feeling particularly good,” Heath said. “We’re taking the situation week-to-week and see where are are and how he is. At the end of the day, we’re governed by how he feels.

“This is not something we can talk to him about and tell him he has to work through the pain. He has a situation only he can tell us how he feels. We’re obviously guided by that.”

Opara hasn’t played because of an undisclosed condition that limited him to just two games played at the start of last season.