The Wellington Phoenix haven’t had much luck this season and that trend continued when midfielder Vince Lia was ruled out of today’s game against Perth Glory at NIB Stadium with a fractured toe.
The Wellington Phoenix haven-t had much luck this season and that trend continued when midfielder Vince Lia was ruled out of today-s game against Perth Glory at NIB Stadium with a fractured toe.
Lia, who has played an important role in midfield this season, sustained the injury in training on Thursday and X-rays the following day revealed the fracture.
It is a disappointing end to the season for Lia, who has been playing for the last few weeks with a niggling ankle injury.
Belgian international striker Stein Huysegems returns to the starting line-up after missing last week-s game with Western Sydney Wanderers through suspension after picking up the first red card of his career against Melbourne Heart.
After starting the season well Huysegems hasn-t had a lot of luck in front of goal, and his season was summed up in the game against Heart when he hit the inside of a post and the ball rebounded into the keeper-s arms.
“Two centimetres to the right and it hits the post and goes in,” Huysegems said.
“I also hit the bar with a header in that game and I think I-ve hit the woodwork five times this season as well as having a good goal disallowed in Adelaide.
“With a bit of luck I could have had nine or ten goals.”
There will also be a defensive change with Ian Hogg at left back and Tony Lochhead switching to right back to release Manny Muscat into midfield.
Lochhead has never played right back but coach Chris Greenacre is confident he can do the job.
“Locky has been top notch in the last two games and I-m sure he will do a good job,” Greenacre said.
Wellington Phoenix team: Glen Moss, Tony Lochhead, Andrew Durante (captain), Ben Sigmund, Ian Hogg, Leo Bertos, Manny Muscat, Corey Gameiro, Paul Ifill, Jeremy Brockie, Stein Huysegems. Substitutes: Mark Paston, Dani Sanchez, Cameron Lindsay, Isaka Cernak.
