Isaka Cernak is in line to make his starting debut for the Wellington Phoenix against Perth Glory at Eden Park on Saturday, and wants to repay the faith Ricki Herbert has shown in signing him from Melbourne Victory by helping th e team climb the A-League ladder.
Cernak, 23, had been at Victory for almost two years but was finding it hard to get back in the starting line-up after slipping down the pecking order through injury.
“Yes, it was a bit frustrating because at this stage in my career I felt I needed to be playing,” Cernak said in Auckland as he prepared for the game.
“Not everyone gets another chance so when Ricki offered me one I was really grateful and I want to repay the faith he has shown in me over the rest of the season.”
Cernak is hoping to start on Saturday but should that not happen he will be ready to come off the bench.
“If I get the chance to start games then great,” he said.
“But if I have to come off the bench it won-t change my attitude.
“Football is a team game and if I-m not in the starting line-up it is because I-ve not done enough to convince the people that make the decisions that I should be.”
Cernak-s first priority is to help the Phoenix get points on the board, and he saw enough when coming off the bench last week to be confident on Saturday.
“I felt we deserved all three points against Newcastle,” he said.
“We-ve had a good hard week of training and I-m looking forward to helping get three points.”
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