New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe admits rookie Connor Lade has been a revelation this season.

Lade has won great praise from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

And Backe told the New York Post: "He's starting to be a key player for us.

"We've played I think it's 24 games or something like that, and he's one of the guys you put first on the starting lineup, whether it's at the wide left position or as a right fullback.

"He's been absolutely phenomenal. Coming to us from our Academy directly, the first season with form like this, you don't see that very often in professional football.''