Some notable inclusions in the Wellington Phoenix squads for Sunday’s A-League matches against Macarthur FC and Western United.
New signing Youstin Salas has been named in the men’s extended squad for the first time, a week after arriving in Wellington.
The Costa Rica international was in the stands for the competition leaders’ 2-0 win over Western United on Saturday night and has trained fully with the squad this week in the lead-up to Sunday’s match against Macarthur FC in Sydney.
Polish striker Oskar Zawada is also expected to travel with the men this Saturday, having made a quicker than expected recovery from a groin injury.
Zawada has been limited to just two appearances off the bench in the past two months.
Attacking midfielder Liv Ingham has been named in the women’s extended squad for the first time and is a chance of making her A-League debut against Western United in Melbourne on Sunday.
It would be Ingham’s first competitive game in more than a year.
The New Zealand age-group international has been sidelined since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee at the end of 2022.
Canadian goalkeeper Rylee Foster is also back from suspension, which is a timely boost for the women as ‘keeper Brianna Edwards is one of four Phoenix players away with the Football Ferns at their Olympic qualifying tournament in Samoa, while captain Annalie Longo, midfielder Macey Fraser and Mariana Speckmaier are out with injuries.
Wellington Phoenix men’s squad (two to be omitted): 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin CONCHIE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 17. Youstin SALAS, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 26. Isaac HUGHES, 40. Alex PAULSEN (gk), 43. Matt SHERIDAN, 51. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES.
In: 9. Oskar ZAWADA (returning from injury), 17. Youstin SALAS (new signing).
Out: 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 42. Fergus GILLION (omitted).
Unavailable: 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 19. Sam SUTTON (injured).
Wellington Phoenix women’s squad (one to be omitted): 1. Rylee FOSTER (gk), 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 7. Isabel COX, 9. Kelli BROWN, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Hope BRESLIN, 14. Michaela ROBERTSON, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 18. Hailey DAVIDSON, 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Manaia ELLIOTT, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Rebecca LAKE, 25. Ella MCMILLAN, 26. Tiana JABER, 27. Helena ERRINGTON.
In: 1. Rylee FOSTER (gk) (returning from suspension), 9. Kelli BROWN (promoted), 14. Michaela ROBERTSON (promoted), 19. Liv INGHAM (returning from injury).
Out: 3. Kate TAYLOR (international duty), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (international duty), 6. Macey FRASER (injured), 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk) (international duty), 13. Michaela FOSTER (international duty), 16. Annalie LONGO (c) (injured), 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER (injured).
Unavailable: 3. Kate TAYLOR (international duty), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (international duty), 5. Marisa VAN DER MEER (injured), 6. Macey FRASER (injured), 8. Grace WISNEWSKI (injured), 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk) (international duty), 13. Michaela FOSTER (international duty), 16. Annalie LONGO (c) (injured), 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER (injured).
