Ex-college star could emerge for Red Bulls

The Red Bulls will have a lot of new faces this season, which opens Saturday at Sporting KC (8 p.m., MSG), but the most intriguing one is left-back Andrew Gutman.

The former Indiana University standout arrives on loan from Atlanta United after starting 20 games across the past two difficult seasons with FC Cincinnati (while being owned by Scottish giant Celtic).

Gutman has just one MLS assist and zero goals but, in theory, offers an attacking threat to pair with the energetic Kyle Duncan on the right. Though Gutman’s counting stats are unimpressive, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic about his future impact.

The ex-Hoosier completed an impressive 60.5 percent of his

dribble attempts last season, and also 80.1 percent of his passes, according to FBref. Those figures far surpass the dribbling (37.1 percent) and passing (69.7 percent) prowess of Jason Pendant, the team’s primary left-back last season.

A productive Gutman on the left flank would vastly lessen the burden on Duncan, on whom the Red Bulls relied heavily for offense last season. Beyond his counting stats (three goals and two assists), Duncan led the team in progressive passes, successful dribbles, attacking third touches and pass targets (passes intending to go to him).

Gutman, who could get his first start Saturday, seems to like the fit as well.

“I’ve always wanted to play for Red Bull,” he told the team’s website. “I just always felt my quality as a player fit the Red Bull system.”

Clearly, the Red Bulls think the same of the 24-year-old. And why not take a flier on a former collegiate Player of the Year?