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New York Red Bulls go on the offensive with Youri Djorkaeff in middle with forwards Edson Buddle and Jean Philippe Peguero.

EAST RUTHERFORD -- When coach Mo Johnston made the decision to send Amado Guevara home while the Red Bulls prepare to trade him, he did so knowing he wouldn't have to look far to replace the 2004 Major League Soccer MVP.

In fact, he made the decision fully aware that he just might have a player better equipped to run the Red Bulls' attack than Guevara.

Youri Djorkaeff made his career as a central midfielder, serving as the creative force on some of Europe's top clubs as well as the ideal partner for Zinedine Zidane on the 1998 French World Cup team.

Djorkaeff has spent most of his Red Bulls' career at forward because of the club's lack of reliable forwards and the presence of Guevara. Now it appears both obstacles have been removed.

Djorkaeff will start in central midfield tonight against Chivas USA and will be playing behind forwards Edson Buddle and Jean Philippe Peguero. The latter will be playing together for the first time since the Red Bulls acquired Peguero from the Colorado Rapids.

Johnston is confident the new attacking combination can help the team win its first game.

"I had a long chat with [Djorkaeff] and we agree that this is his best position," Johnston said. "He should be the one on the ball. Having him in that hole with two strikers in front is very exciting. This is where he wants to play."

Djorkaeff, who has declined interview requests until the team wins a game, has struggled to make the sort of impact that earned him the team's MVP last season.

Part of his struggles can be traced to the need for him to drop down from his forward position into the midfield to make up for the ineffectiveness of Guevara, whose lackluster play put a strain on the entire squad.

"The way we've looked in practice I can tell you that we will create more chances," Johnston said. "Peguero and Buddle were on fire this week and with Djorkaeff underneath, they are going to be a handful."

Buddle has been sharp after recovering from a hamstring strain that sidelined him for two matches. Buddle and Peguero each boast a combination of size and speed that could create problems for a Chivas USA defense that will be missing Mexican national team defender Claudio Suarez.

"We're both strong players who can hold the ball and get players into the attack," said Buddle of himself and Peguero.

"I think once we can start holding the ball and getting other people into the attack you'll really see us do some things."

Mark Lisi and Danny O'Rourke will be paired with Djorkaeff in central midfield while Johnston is expected to field the same three-man defense (Steve Jolley, Carlos Mendes and Jeff Parke) he used against Chicago last week.

Johnston also provided an update on Guevara's status. Several clubs have expressed interest in the Honduran playmaker, with FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire among them, but Johnston said he is in no hurry to deal.

"There's a lot of teams that want him," Johnston said. "But he will not walk out that door without me getting something solid for him. I'm not going to buckle. That's not the way I operate. I'm not frightened to make decisions and I won't mind waiting.

"He has an opportunity to come back on Tuesday and work and we'll see what happens from there," said Johnston of Guevara, who has been excused from the team since Wednesday.

Today's match also will mark the return of former MetroStars coach Bob Bradley, who will make his first appearance at Giants Stadium since being fired in October.