Minnesota United's recent break — one game played in the past five weeks — has allowed some players needed rest and others needed work.
It also has provided a pause to ponder before Saturday's game at FC Dallas where their momentum might be.
The Loons won twice and tied once since they started the season with four consecutive, unexpected losses.
Their comeback 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake over Memorial Day weekend three weeks ago remains their only game since a May 15 home victory over FC Dallas. Internationals Jan Gregus, Robin Lod and Jukka Raitala left immediately after that RSL game to play for national teams in the UEFA European Championship.
"It's not ideal, but it has given us the opportunity for different players to do different things," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "That's what we've managed to do. Ideally, you don't want this after you've won two and drawn one for the seven points out of nine. We'd like to keep that going, but it doesn't get any easier."
The Loons used their break to work Argentine striker Ramon Abila into what Heath calls the best shape since he joined the club in March. They've given newly acquired forward Adrien Hunou extra work after he hadn't played a full game in seven weeks before he transferred from his French first-division team.
It also provided two weeks away from team training for star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso to heal his body with athletic trainers alongside veteran Ozzie Alonso. Both rejoined the team this past week.
"We've never gotten a full clean bill of health until now," said Heath, who's awaiting the return of Lod, Gregus and Raitala from Europe near month's end at the earliest.
