The Red Bulls are ready to take the training wheels off Derrick Etienne Jr.

The highly touted homegrown product is set to play a bigger role with the club this season, according to head coach Jesse Marsch, with the club clamoring about the 21-year-old’s continued growth while progressing through the Red Bulls’ system.

“I think Derrick will establish himself as a major piece this year,” Marsch said on a conference call. “When I first came here, [I was told] about Derrick, about how he was lazy, that he took too many touches on the ball, that he wouldn’t fit in the system. A big credit goes to Derrick because he’s really challenged himself to adapt, to learn, to push himself to get better every year.”

Marsch credited the third-year midfielder with using Red Bulls II and the USL to his advantage last year and in seasons past. While he had a breakout season with Red Bulls II in 2016, when he scored seven times in 28 games, Etienne split time between both squads last season. After a handful of games with Red Bulls II in May, he was recalled in July and the Red Bulls briefly saw early returns, by way of production and positional flexibility.

While he assisted on two goals in just 702 minutes across 18 games for the Red Bulls last season, the void left in the team’s attacking end, specifically Sacha Kljestan’s playmaker role, could make Etienne a viable candidate due to his dribbling abilities and finishing. He also could see time wide on the wing.

“He used the USL to help push himself and establish himself and understand and apply his abilities to the way we like to play football,” Marsch said. “Even in preseason, I see a different man, a more mature person, a more committed person. A guy who thinks more carefully, operates more carefully within the group and I think he will be rewarded with his on-field play.

“We’re counting on Derrick. This year we’re counting on him in a much bigger way and I know he’ll be ready to respond.”

On-loan midfielder Marc Rzatkowski is another talent Jesse Marsch seemed excited about.

“[Rzatkowski’s] fitness level is high [and] his understand with the way we play is spot on,” said Marsch, who compared his professionalism to Red Bulls winger Danny Royer.

Rzatkowski joined the Red Bulls in January on loan from sister club Red Bull Salzburg. Marsch lauded the 27-year-old’s instincts and flexibility, saying he could play “nearly anywhere” in the midfield.

“He has a great blend of work rate and also a creative eye to make plays. I think that we picked up a real special addition to our team,” Marsch said.

Longtime goalkeeper Luis Robles was named the Red Bulls’ captain for the 2018 season.

The decision was apparently easy for the Marsch and the Red Bulls’ brass.

“His ability to communicate with his teammates, his ability to stand in front of them and show confidence and belief in himself and the group is extremely high,” Marsch said. “When you talk about a guy who is going to represent the club, a guy who is going to represent the team, Luis is an incredible captain to have for this club.”

Robles becomes just the second goalkeeper to bear the armband for the Red Bulls, after Tony Meola did it for the Metrostars in 1997.

The Red Bulls’ captain’s armband has changed hands in three consecutive seasons after the exits of Dax McCarty and Kljestan.