SANDY, Utah — Losers of three straight matches, Real Salt Lake are a team in need of a lift.
And they'll get one on Wednesday night (10 pm ET, watch LIVE online) when they host the Seattle Sounders: Captain Kyle Beckerman will be back in the lineup after missing RSL's 2-0 loss last Saturday in Columbus due to a yellow-card accumulation suspension.
"Kyle is our leader," said defender Nat Borchers. "He is the best player on the pitch for us game in and game out, so consistent. It's huge having him in there. I think he does a lot more work defensively than people give him credit for, as well. He wins more 50-50 battles than anyone in the league, so it will be nice to have him back in there."
Head coach Jason Kreis wholeheartedly agrees.
WATCH: Newcomers join RSL
"It's great," Kreis of Beckerman's return. "We really feel like when he isn't out there that we miss a little bit of extra leadership, a little bit of extra communication, a little bit of fight and tenacity and leading by example. We will be very, very pleased to get him back out there."
Real hope the return of their captain also means a return to winning ways. They've dropped their last three league matches, including two straight at Rio Tinto Stadium. It's a streak that doesn't sit very well with anyone.
"We want to do well," said Kreis about the July 4 match against Seattle. "We feel we owe our fans that after our last two home matches. I'm hopeful that there's not a little extra energy, but a lot of extra energy."
Even though they are in the midst of their toughest stretch of results this season, RSL still feel they have what it takes to get back on track against Seattle.
"Things are going to happen to every team," Beckerman said. "You just have to hope you have a strong locker room to get through those things. We all know it's here. We know when we are firing on all cylinders we are one of the best teams in the league.
"I think we are an experienced enough bunch to know that you are going to go through hard times and you are going to get out of it. It only takes one win to get out of it."
