SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake midfielder Enzo Martinez returned last weekend from his short-term loan to the NASL Carolina RailHawks, going 90 minutes in RSL’s Reserve League loss at Chivas USA on Monday before training with the team for the first time since his loan ended on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Martinez played three games with Carolina after joining them in late-April, coming off the bench in each game and totaling 74 minutes played. The stint in the second-division gave Martinez – who has not appeared for the RSL first-team this year – confidence that he’s hoping to carry back to the Claret-and-Cobalt.
“I think with every player confidence is everything,” Martinez said on Wednesday. “Things are going good and feeling good so I need to continue that. I think that got me back on track with my confidence. It helped me feel comfortable with the games so that’s what I hope to continue to do.”
The former North Carolina Tar Heel scored in the 84th minute of his RailHawks debut, rifling a 25-yard shot inside the left post to equalize in Carolina’s 2-2 draw at Minnesota United FC on May 4.
“I was glad I was able to help the team rescue a point in away games,” he said. “That helps out a lot with the confidence.
But it really feels great to be back here. [Wednesday] was my first practice I’m feeling really good. Coach had me as a neutral, which was good because I was able to get a lot of touches. Right now it’s about me trying to move forward and doing the right things to get some playing time.”
