Ins & Outs: Old and Surman back from injuries

Academy graduates Ben Old and Finn Surman are back in contention for first-team selection.

They have been named in an extended Wellington Phoenix squad for Saturday’s Isuzu UTE A-League match against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Old, 20, has missed the men’s past two matches with a hernia injury but has resumed training this week.

The attacking midfielder featured in the team’s opening eight matches and memorably scored his maiden goal at Sky Stadium against Macarthur FC in round five.

Surman, 19, has been side-lined since suffering a shoulder injury in the reserves’ final round National League Championship game at the end of November.

The centre back has yet to feature for the first team so far this season after making 15 appearances in his maiden campaign.

Their returns leave fullback and fellow academy graduate Sam Sutton as the only squad member unavailable for selection. Sutton is yet to recover from illness.

Finn Surman is available for selection, having been side-lined for five weeks with a shoulder injury. Photo credit: Photomac.

Wellington Phoenix men’s squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 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, 20. Oli SAIL (gk), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 31. Yan SASSE, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk).

IN: 3. Finn SURMAN (returning from injury), 8. Ben OLD (returning from injury).

OUT: 35. Noah KARUNARATNE (demoted).

Unavailable: 19. Sam SUTTON (illness).

Natalie Lawrence has named an unchanged Wellington Phoenix squad for Saturday’s Liberty A-League match against Western United at City Vista Recreation Reserve in Melbourne.

Lawrence is hopeful Football Ferns Paige Satchell and Emma Rolston, who were late withdrawals from the squad to play Western Sydney Wanderers on Monday, will be able to return this weekend.

Paige Satchell missed Monday’s 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers with a knee injury. Photo credit: Photomac.

Captain Lily Alfeld and vice-captain Kate Taylor remain side-lined with injuries, while attacking midfielder Alyssa Whinham is still unavailable for personal reasons.

Wellington Phoenix women’s 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: Nil.

OUT: Nil.

Unavailable: 1. Lily ALFELD (gk) (injured), 3. Kate TAYLOR (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (personal reasons).