INSIDE THE 18: Cory Burke, John Tolkin Return to Starting XI

Back from national team duty in Gold Cup, John Tolkin and Cory Burke slot back into the Starting XI for Head Coach Troy Lesesne and the New York Red Bulls as they take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.

This will be the 24th overall regular season meeting between New York and Real Salt Lake with Real Salt Lake holding the advantage in the series with a 7-6-10 mark. 

Burke and Tolkin have been away from RBNY for the past three weeks while with Jamaica and the United States Men’s National Teams, respectively.

The Red Bulls last visited Real Salt Lake on March 7, 2020, where the teams battled to a 1-1 draw.

Burke starts up top, alongside Dante Vanzeir. Omir Fernandez and Wiki Carmona push the attack.

Fernandez scored his fourth goal across all competitions on Wednesday night. Fernandez leads the team in goals across all competitions and has now contributed a goal or an assist in four-straight matches. The Bronx, N.Y native scored his first career MLS penalty kick goal in Wednesday’s match and has now scored 12 career MLS goals.

Tolkin gets the nod alongside Sean Nealis, Andrés Reyes and Cameron Harper. Daniel Edelman and Peter Stroud look to lock down the defensive midfield. 

Carlos Coronel starts in goal for New York.

Real Salt Lake is currently on an eight-match unbeaten streak and are coming off a 2-2 draw to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night. 

Off the bench, the Red Bulls will have Tom Barlow, Elias Manoel, Luquinhas, Ronald Donkor, Frankie Amaya, Hassan Ndam, Kyle Duncan and Ryan Meara available.

Dru Yearwood, Dylan Nealis, Lewis Morgan, Serge Ngoma and Steven Sserwadda remain sidelined.

Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and New York Red Bulls Radio in English via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app, and NewYorkRedBulls.com.

Coverage on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish begins at 9:30 p.m. ET. Jenn Hildreth will have the primary play-by-play responsibilities and will be alongside Jill Loyden on the English side, Alejandro Figueredo will have the play-by-play responsibilities alongside Luis Gerado Bucci on the Spanish broadcast. New York Red Bulls Radio begins at 9 p.m. ET with Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Honda, hosted by Matt Harmon and Steve Jolley.