Singh provides a rare bright note for Nix

If you need a reason to watch the Wellington Phoenix tonight, Sarpreet Singh should be all you need.

It would be easy to forget about the Phoenix at this stage in their campaign, given that they’re without a full-time coach and are on track for their worst season on record.

In fact, most of the Auckland media did, with only Stuff present at the pre-match session yesterday, looking forward to the clash with the Newcastle Jets - one of two the Wellington club will play there in the final five weeks of the A-league season.

It’s a sign that it’s hard to get excited about the team. But in 19-year-old Singh, who received his first All Whites callup during the week, they have a player who offers hope for the future.

Interim first team coach Chris Greenacre has probably seen more of him than he would have liked, coaching the Phoenix’s reserve side in the national league this summer, given how obvious his potential was.

Former coach Darije Kalezic finally saw the light in his final weeks in charge, giving Singh his first A-league start, and when he shone - scoring a cracker of goal just minutes in against Perth Glory - he was promised a starting spot going forward. Kalezic may be gone but Singh has remained a starter, and is likely to be in the starting XI tonight.

Greenacre was pleased to see Singh recognised by new national team coach Fritz Schmid, and is hoping it will help him kick on with the Phoenix, where he is signed through the end of the 2019-20 season.

‘‘In my opinion, I think he probably could have got an earlier shout, but that’s by the by really. He’s an exciting talent, and everyone that’s worked with him knows what he’s capable of.’’