Three months into his tenure as head coach of the New England Revolution, Marko Mitrovic was asked about recruiting young players. His answer was straightforward.

“I would say more, for me, it’s what we see on the field,” Mitrovic explained. “Do we see quality, and what level of quality do we see? That goes before age. That’s something that is very important.”

While the Revs have certainly relied on veterans like Carles Gil (33), Matt Turner (32), and Mamadou Fofana (28), they've also given significant minutes to the likes of Peyton Miller (18), Brooklyn Raines (21), and Ethan Kohler (21).

On Thursday, the team announced they acquired 21-year-old South African international Tylon Smith on loan from Queen Parks Rangers.

Mitrovic said the central defender has "high potential" before noting, "We want to see how much we can help him to grow as a player."

Mitrovic's ability to create a supportive, yet demanding, environment is what makes him special. He looks to reward players who are performing well.

“Marko treats all players based on what they bring," Kohler explained. "Sometimes as a young player, you can be overlooked based on your age or lack of experience, so on and so forth. But he sees the picture for what it is. If you're playing well, you're playing well. If you're doing the things that he asks of you, then he doesn't see that you're a young player doing the things he asks of you.

"He just sees that you're a player doing those things. That can fill you with confidence and you have more of a sense of belonging. He doesn't have this hierarchy in the way that he coaches."

Several other players have commented on what Mitrovic has brought to the Revolution, with Gil saying, "The team needs to have an identity, and with Marko, since the beginning, we have that."

Nigerian international Alhassan Yusuf explained in May, "I think [Mitrovic] brought so much intensity. I think that's what we've lacked the whole time I've been here before he came: the intensity...You could see it from the beginning. In training, trying to push [us], in a – I don't know – strict but in a positive way."

Kohler knows first-hand what Mitrovic can do for a player. At 17, he was called into a U.S. U-19 camp as a central midfielder. Mitrovic gave him a list of eight to ten things to work on, which he took to heart.

Kohler went on to start four of five games at the U-20 World Cup, helping the United States secure 3-0 wins over France and Italy.

“He's a guy with a lot of understanding and a lot of experience," Kohler said. "Just for me as a young player, he's not only given me things to work on, but he's checked in continuously and he's someone who really cares. For a young player, that's massive.”