by DAVE MARTINEZ

For weeks, the New York Red Bulls have been evaluating a mystery trialist in camp. This weekend, reports surfaced linking Austrian midfielder Lukas Schubert to a preseason trial, inviting conjecture that the mystery trialist and Schubert are one in the same.

Are the two connected?

Not quite.

EoS has learned that the mystery trialist, who has been with the Red Bulls since late January, is not Schubert. As of last week, Schubert was still in Europe, making the connection an impossibility.

Schubert, 26, is an Austrian midfielder who has plied his trade with SV Grodig his entire career. From 2008-2015, Schubert appeared in 128 matches, scoring 17 goals for his club. However, he has not played an official match since 2013 following complications stemming from a heart issue. A club favorite, Grodig honored his contract to the very end, leaving Schubert a free agent by the summer of 2015.

While EoS cannot confirm the accuracy of the original Sky Sports Austria trial report, there are connections that would suggest Schubert could be in New York’s plans — starting with Ralf Rangnick. Sources tell EoS the current RB Leipzig boss and Sporting Director of Red Bull Football reached out to Schubert during his treatment time, offering some of the Red Bulls’ organizational resources to treat his condition — an important piece to this puzzle.

Sky reports Schubert will be training with Red Bulls through the end of February training.