Although it's not his natural position, Matt Polster has the qualities to play right back.
It's not an unfamiliar spot, as he had a breakout season there with Chicago Fire in 2017. Current Revs head coach Marko Mitrovic was a Chicago assistant then.
With Ilay Feingold recovering from an injury, Mitrovic has moved Polster from the midfield to right back.
"I think that Matt has a very good understanding of the game," Mitrovic said. "No matter where he is, he understands what's happening on the field."
Polster has quickly formed chemistry with newcomer Jack Harrison, reading each other's movements. When one is inside, the other is outside.
“I know he’s not usually a right back, but seeing what he does on the pitch, it’s like he’s been playing there for years," Harrison said. "The chemistry that we have on that right side with Carles [Gil] as well is like we’ve been playing together for a long time.
"...The communication from Matt, he’s a great leader on the pitch and throughout the locker room as well, he’s done a great job stepping into that role. He’s always trying to help out his teammates, whether it’s me, or Carles, or whoever. He’s a great, great guy to be around."
With Brooklyn Raines missing Sunday's game against New York City FC due to yellow card accumulation, there's a possibility that Polster could return to the center of the park.
The coaching staff is still weighing its options.
"We're trying to find the right balance for the team over 90 minutes and how we want to fill that spot that is now open with Brooklyn having yellow cards," Mitrovic said. "We still have not made a decision. We are talking about that. We are in the process because it's not a [snap] decision where we just throw one player there and then let's see what's going to happen.
"We are trying to predict scenarios that will happen on the field and then determine what's the best balance for us. Hopefully, we'll make the right decision."
