Three members of the Wellington Phoenix Academy are included in the Wellington Phoenix Hyundai League squad to play Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
With five regular first team players called up for international duty and five unavailable through injury, coach Chris Greenacre, had no option but to give the youngsters an opportunity.
Greenacre is confident those who get are in the starting line up, or on the bench, will acquit themselves well.
“The Academy boys have trained regularly with the first team squad and haven’t looked out of place,” Greenacre said.
“Sarpreet (Singh) and Libby (Cacace) have already made that step up and have acquitted themselves well.
“It isn’t a great situation to be in, but while the A-League doesn’t recognise international windows, we have to make the best of it.
“I am confident we will give a good account of ourselves and continue the improvement we showed last week.”
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Nathan BURNS, 8.Matija LJUJIC, 9.Andrija KALUDJEROVIC, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 15.James MCGARRY, 17.Monty PATTERSON, 20.Oli SAIL (gk), 22.Andrew DURANTE(c), 24.Logan ROGERSON, 26.Liberato CACACE, 27.Willem EBBINGE, 28.Sam PHILIP, 29.Oliver WHYTE 31.Sam SUTTON
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 15.James MCGARRY (promoted), 17.Monty PATTERSON (promoted), 20.Oli SAIL (promoted), 22.Andrew DURANTE (return from injury), 27.Willem EBBINGE (promoted), 28.Sam PHILIP (promoted), 29.OLIVER WHYTE (promoted), 31.Sam SUTTON (promoted)
Outs: 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY (international duty – 1 week),13.Marco ROSSI (injury – calf) 14.Alex RUFER (international duty – 1 week), 18.Sarpreet SINGH (international duty – 1 week), 19.Tom DOYLE (international duty – 1 week), 21.Roy KRISHNA (international duty – 1 week), 40.Tando VELAPHI (injury)
Unavailable: 2.Daniel MULLEN (knee – end of season), 5.Ryan LOWRY (quad – end of season)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: Brisbane Roar FC squad: 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Massimo MACCARONE, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 11.Corey GAMEIRO, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG(gk), 22.Eric BAUTHEAC, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 31.Brendan WHITE(gk), 33.Henrique SILVA, 77.Ivan FRANJIC
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Corey BROWN (promoted), 20.Shannon BRADY (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (gk) (finger – TBC), 3.Luke DEVERE (knee – 2-3 weeks), 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS (fractured ankle – TBC), 13.Jade NORTH (calf – 2-3 weeks), 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO (ankle – 1 week)
Match details:
Wellington Phoenix vs. Brisbane Roar, Westpac Stadium, kick-off 7:00pm (NZT)/5:35pm (AEDT)
