New signing Nikko Boxall and a couple of the club’s academy players have been named in an extended Wellington Phoenix squad for Sunday’s round 16 Isuzu UTE A-League match against Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium.
Boxall has been included in a Phoenix squad for the first time following his move from Auckland City FC at the start of the week.
The experienced defender will vie for a place at centre back with Josh Laws, Finn Surman and Tim Payne, who has returned from suspension. English centre back Scott Wootton remains sidelined with a calf injury.
Reserve team players Noah Karunaratne and Joshua Tollervey, both 19, are a chance of travelling to Sydney on Saturday afternoon in place of veteran forward Kosta Barbarouses, who has been ruled out of this weekend’s match with injury.
Karunaratne is an attacking midfielder and featured in the Phoenix’s Australia Cup campaign last year.
Tollervey has yet to travel with the senior squad. The striker finished the National League Championship with two goals and an assist in the reserves’ final three games in November.
Wellington Phoenix men’s squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 5. Steven UGARKOVIC, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7 Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 13. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 15. Nikko BOXALL, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 19. Sam SUTTON, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 35. Noah KARUNARATNE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk), 44. Joshua TOLLERVEY.
IN: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from suspension), 15. Nikko BOXALL (new signing), 35. Noah KARUNARATNE (promoted), 44. Josh TOLLERVEY (promoted).
OUT: 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES (injured), 37. Isaac HUGHES (demoted).
Unavailable: 4. Scott WOOTTON (injured), 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES (injured), 23. Clayton LEWIS (injured).
It is a story of one in/one out for the Wellington Phoenix women ahead of their round 14 Liberty A-League match against Western Sydney Wanderers, also in Sydney on Sunday.
Experienced forward Emma Rolston is back in the extended squad after serving her two game suspension, but centre back Kate Taylor is now sidelined after being red carded in the team’s last match against Brisbane Roar.
Club captain Lily Alfeld (injury) and attacking midfielder Alyssa Whinham (personal reasons) remain unavailable for selection.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 2. Saskia VOSPER, 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, 16. Emma ROLSTON, 17. Claudia CICCO, 18. Te Reremoana WALKER, 19. Charlotte LANCASTER, 20. Milly CLEGG, 21. Michaela FOSTER, 22. Georgia CANDY (gk).
IN: 16. Emma ROLSTON (back from suspension).
OUT: 3. Kate TAYLOR (suspended).
Unavailable: 1. Lily ALFELD (gk) (injured), 3. Kate TAYLOR (suspended), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (personal reasons).
