FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Teal Bunbury has found consistent playing time since arriving in New England prior to the 2014 season, making at least 27 appearances in each of his first four years in Foxborough. What hasn’t been consistent, however, is the position Bunbury has played during those appearances.

At times a winger, at other times a forward – both target and underneath – Bunbury has been something of an attacking Swiss Army knife, used in different capacities depending on the Revolution’s formation, opponent, and availability of other players.

That’s changed in 2018 under new head coach Brad Friedel, who’s handed Bunbury five straight starts, the past four as the central striker in New England’s three-pronged attack.

“When we first took over the job, Teal was either a striker or a player that could play out on the wing,” Friedel said. “(He has a) tireless work rate, and when we got to see him for a fair few weeks, we thought his best position would be as a nine for us, especially in the games where we want to press.”

It’s Bunbury’s efforts in that department – harassing and harrying opposing defenders and midfielders, cutting down passing lanes and forcing turnovers – that’s separated him from the pack, and he’s put a cherry on top by scoring game-winning goals in the Revolution’s last two matches.

Bunbury will continue to be challenged for starting minutes by Juan Agudelo, Krisztián Németh, and Brian Wright, but his performances in recent weeks have made him an integral part of the Revolution setup, and he’ll be looking to make it goals in three straight on Saturday night against FC Dallas.

“Not only can he score goals, he does that work (on the press) really, really well,” Friedel said. “You have to be able to press, but then when a team hits it long, get back into position to be in position for the second balls, and Teal’s done a tremendous job of that.”