INS & OUTS: Hassett returns from Ferns duty

Betsy Hassett is back in contention for the Wellington Phoenix’s 11^th round Liberty A-League match against Canberra United at Sky Stadium on Sunday.

The experienced midfielder has missed the Phoenix’s past two matches. She was a bridesmaid for Rosie White’s wedding a fortnight ago and was then released for international duty.

Hassett started the Football Ferns’ first of two internationals against the U.S.A., playing the full 90 minutes at Sky Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

She has now re-joined the Nix to prepare to play Canberra on Sunday.

Team-mates Paige Satchell, Emma Rolston, Mackenzie Barry, Grace Wisnewski, who made her Ferns debut on Wednesday, and Brianna Edwards remain in camp with the national squad. They will return to Wellington after Saturday’s second international at Eden Park in Auckland.

Grace Wisnewski made her senior international debut on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the 200th Football Fern. Photo credit: Photomac.

Rolston is unavailable to play for the Phoenix this week as she’s serving the first game of her two-game suspension.

Lily Alfeld (injury) and Alyssa Whinham (personal reasons) remain unavailable for selection.

Wellington Phoenix women’s squad: 2. Saskia VOSPER, 3. Kate TAYLOR, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 7. Chloe KNOTT, 8. Grace WISNEWSKI, 9. Ava PRITCHARD, 11. Betsy HASSETT, 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 13. Paige SATCHELL, 14. Michaela ROBERTSON, 15. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 17. Claudia CICCO, 18. Te Reremoana WALKER, 19. Charlotte LANCASTER, 20. Milly CLEGG, 21. Michaela FOSTER, 22. Georgia CANDY (gk).

IN: 11. Betsy Hassett (returning from international duty).

OUT: 16. Emma ROLSTON (suspended).

Unavailable: 1. Lily ALFELD (gk) (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (personal reasons), 16. Emma ROLSTON (suspended).

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – DECEMBER 17: Bozhidar Kraev of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the round eight A-League Men’s match between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United at Sky Stadium, on December 17, 2022, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)

Ufuk Talay is welcoming back Bozhidar Kraev and Nicholas Pennington for Sunday’s Isuzu UTE A-League match against the Central Coast Mariners, also at Sky Stadium.

The pair are available for selection again after missing last week’s match in Brisbane through suspension.

Kraev is the team’s equal top goal scorer, having found the back of the net five times.

Scott Wootton remains unavailable because of a calf injury.

Wellington Phoenix men’s squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 19. Sam SUTTON, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk).

IN: 11. Bozhidar KRAEV (returning from suspension), 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON (returning from suspension).

OUT: 4. Scott WOOTTON (injured).

Unavailable: 4. Scott WOOTTON (injured).