HANOVER, N.J. – Vacancies have begun to crop up throughout their lineup, but the New York Red Bulls don’t necessarily see it as a negative.
Of course, it’s never easy to watch teammates go down with injury or suspension, but the spots left behind have presented opportunities for other players on the periphery.
Enter Sean Davis, a 23-year-old with tons of upside and promise. But, for as talented as the midfielder has proven to be, Davis has had his struggles breaking into a Red Bulls midfield that has been notoriously solid. That issue is compounded even further when looking at the midfield trio he is contending with - as Felipe, Dax McCarty, and Sacha Kljestan are not just amongst the more talented players in the league, they rarely miss a start.
But following Felipe’s sending off at Gillette Stadium last Friday night, a suspension looms large as head coach Jesse Marsch will be forced to make a change. And while never ideal to see a starting player miss action, but there is little concern that the level will drop as the Homegrown talent looks set to enter the fold.
“With Felipe being out, it’s frustrating and disappointing, but Sean Davis stepped in and played really well,” Marsch said. “He’ll be ready next week. This is a good team, a deep team, so I’m not worried about that.
“We know what we’re going to get from Sean. He’s very alert, he can cover ground, he’s a good passer, and he’s a great competitor.”
For his part, Davis was reluctant to point himself out as the heir apparent on Saturday night, but all signs point to the midfielder stepping in from the start of the match.
“Nothing is set yet,” Davis told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “I’m just focused on training hard this week like every week; and making sure that I prepare so that when I’m called on, I’m ready.”
Added defender Karl Ouimette: “Sean Davis is going to be able to do the job for Felipe for sure; he’s ready to step in. Everybody’s on the same page, so we’re not worried.”
The early-season road bumps have certainly tested this Red Bulls side, but with another stern test coming up on Saturday night, Davis is convinced that he and his side will be ready to meet the challenge.
“We’ve faced a lot of adversity so far, but I think this group is prepared for it,” he said. “We have a lot of depth, so when guys are called upon, they’re going to be ready to perform.”
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