Real Salt Lake: Who will fill in for Albert Rusnák
The young attacker will miss nearly a month of MLS action while on national team duty with Slovakia. Who will help fill the void?
While Real Salt Lake’s season is on the verge of being a lost cause, newcomer Albert Rusnák has been one of the few bright spots this season, and has arguably been the clubs most dependable piece. His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed, as the young attacker has received another call-up to the Slovakian National Team for World Cup Qualifying this weekend, along with a subsequent call-up to Slovakia’s U-21 team for the UEFA U-21 Championship.
This is great news for Albert, but bittersweet for RSL fans, as Rusnák will miss at least the next three matches and potentially more, depending on Slovakia’s performance.
Rusnák has three goals and a team leading five assists, and his presence will be missed. However, for the first time this year head coach Mike Petke will have his choice of any other player on the roster. Here’s a look at who could fill in for Albert in the meantime.
Luis Silva
Rusnák has missed just two matches this year, a visit to Red Bull Arena when he was first called-up by Slovakia, and the team’s trip to New England when he was given a well deserved rest. Luis Silva was actually the player who stepped in during the absence.
Silva has recently been seeing time at forward this year after noticeably supplanting Yura Movsisyan from his starting role, but he’s traditionally been a midfielder throughout his MLS career. Having Luis step into the middle keeps everyone else in their natural position, while still having an experienced veteran pulling the strings.
Jefferson Savarino
Like Rusnák, Savarino has strung together some very solid performances during his short time wearing the claret & cobalt. He’s showed great vision in his passing and has the flair needed to create something off the dribble. Playing Jefferson in the middle also allows for Joao Plata and Brooks Lennon to start on the wings, while still having all three attackers on the field at the same time.
Savarino’s lack of experience in the middle could hold him back, as Rusnák has had the position since Savarino arrived. Jefferson did see time in the middle with his past club, Zulia FC, and could adapt quickly. After making his debut with the Venezuelan National Team last week, the 20-year-old, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Savarino get a run in the middle against the Sacramento Republic in the Open Cup before facing Minnesota United.
Sebastian Saucedo
Like Savarino, Saucedo has all the attributes needed to fill in for Rusnák, and has some previous experience playing in the middle. He should have fresh legs as well, after only playing a total of 61 minutes at the u-20 World Cup. Saucedo broke into the first team when Joao Plata went down injured, but with Plata regaining full health and the addition of Savarino, Saucedo may have fallen down the depth chart a bit. A chance to feature in the middle could lead to more playing time.
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Saucedo has yet to register a goal or assist this season, but showed plenty of promise in his eight appearances, five of them being starts. Placing him in the middle and surrounding him with Lennon, Savarino, and Silva could help him open his scoring count.