The Wellington Phoenix are welcoming back their captain and three other regulars for Sunday’s match against the Newcastle Jets.
Alex Rufer is available again after serving a one match suspension, while centre backs Scott Wootton and Isaac Hughes and experienced midfielder Paulo Retre have shaken off the injuries which forced them to miss last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is yet to confirm how much the fit-again trio will be involved against Newcastle.
“I want to see how they pull up from training today,” Italiano told media on Friday.
“As much as I want them back into the team I don’t want to rush them and run a risk of them missing out on the last couple of games of the season.
“Paulo is tracking along nicely. Scotty and Hughesy are ahead of schedule which is good, especially Hughesy. Hughesy’s had a really good rehab stint.
“I’ll be looking for those guys to have heavy involvement, but again we’ll see how they pull up from training today.”
Italiano will be unable to call on Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes, with the Portuguese midfielder ruled out of the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
“Chico out and some central defenders back might give us a bit of a different dynamic but the intention will still be to build on what we’ve done over the last month.
“The shape might change but the intention will be the same.”
Rufer, Kosta Barbarouses and Tim Payne have brought a new energy to Phoenix training after helping the All Whites qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“All of the boys have been buzzing about the fact they’re potentially going to the World Cup.
“It’s great motivation for them next year and for the remainder of this season to build a case.
“Instead of having an available 30 to 40 players you watch there will be like 60/70 players come out of woodwork all wanting to fight for the last 26 places.
“I’d expect Rufer, Kosta and Payney to be fully motivated and fully focused for the next season and a half to try and get on that plane.”
The Newcastle Jets announced during the week that men’s head coach Rob Stanton will leave the club at the end of the season.
“I think it’s madness to be fair because he took a very limited resourced club from last year and built it this year,” Italiano said.
“You can see the way they play in a really good, positive manner.
“He’s developed a lot of those young boys and to be fair they probably needed another year or two years with him.”
Although he questions the decision, Giancarlo Italiano doesn’t think the coaching news will have an impact on the Jets players
“I think there was a rumour of it a couple of weeks ago so if it’s affected the group it would have affected them a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s business as normal.”
The Nix beat Newcastle 2-1 at Sky Stadium late last year courtesy of goals from Barbarouses and Retre.
The Jets have only been beaten three times since and went on a seven-game unbeaten before losing to Western United last month.
“I thought they were dangerous the last time we played them but we were also going through a form slump at that time.
“It was a bit of a cagey match. We low-blocked them with the intention of trying to break them down with more counter-attacking/transitional moments, which I think worked for a large part.
“But they were very dangerous. They picked us apart more than other teams did, especially through the middle.
“They’re the same sort of team, they just have a bit of confidence now.
“They’ve stuck to their playing style, they’ve stuck with those young players and they had one or two good games where they built that belief and now it’s just momentum getting them through.
“They’ll be a tough team to play.”
Newcastle need to win on Sunday to remain in finals contention, but the Phoenix aren’t driven to be spoilers.
“Every game’s the same whether we’re going for the six or not playing for the six. All our boys are motivated to play.
“We’re not there to ruin anyone’s party but at the same time we want them to earn any points they take off us.
“I think we’re good enough to get the three points so it’ll be a good game.”
The round 25 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets is scheduled to kick-off at McDonald Jones Stadium at 7pm (5pm AEST) Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 7 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 28 December 2024 – Wellington Phoenix 2 Newcastle Jets 1
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 26W, Jets 17W & 7D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk),3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY.
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured).
Newcastle Jets squad (two to be omitted): 1. Ryan SCOTT (gk), 4. Phillip ČANČAR, 6. Matthew SCARCELLA, 7. Eli ADAMS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 10. WELLISSOL, 13. Clayton TAYLOR, 14. Dane INGHAM, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR, 17. Kosta GROZOS (c), 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 19. Callum TIMMINS, 20. Charles M’MOMBWA, 21. Noah JAMES (gk), 22. Ben GIBSON, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Lachlan BAYLISS, 39. Thomas AQUILINA.
Unavailable: 25. Oscar FRYER, 11. Jacob DOWSE.
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
