With Christian Ramirez still flying high at the front of the Minnesota United attack, the team has signed an impressive insurance policy, bringing in El Salvador international Rafael Burgos on loan for the remainder of the NASL season. Burgos, who was with Austrian side SV Reid, was loaned to Hungarian champions Gyor in 2013. The 26-year-old has made 31 appearances for El Salvador's national team, scoring ten times, and while El Salvador is a second-tier CONCACAF team, it's still a good pedigree for a second-division striker.
Perhaps more importantly, the signing is an indication that United is no longer counting on striker Pablo Campos to return in 2014. When Campos tore his ACL and MCL in preseason training, the team said he would return for the fall season - an impressive timetable, to say the least. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson took nine months to return from the same injury, and while Germany international Sami Khedira made his return from the dual ligament tear even more quickly - going from his injury last November to starring in the World Cup this summer - it always seemed unlikely that Campos could do the same.
The NASL season stretches into November this year, so it's always possible that Campos - with three more months ahead of him - could still come back. But with Burgos now in the fold, it would appear that Minnesota no longer expects that return anytime soon.
While Burgos should be a good weapon, it also seems unlikely that the Loons would break up the partnership between Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra, one that's produced three goals in three games this fall. It's more likely that United simply wanted another goal scorer on the roster that has a little more experience than Nate Polak, should the team need a second striker late in a game, or to spell Ramirez.
Burgos will arrive in the Twin Cities tomorrow, meaning that he's unlikely to be available as soon as Saturday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. The rest of the team is healthy, however, as United looks to continue a seven-match unbeaten streak.
