Krishna may leave Phoenix
Is Roy Krishna trying to force an exit from the Wellington Phoenix?
Despite being cleared by two specialists, the Fijian international has made himself unavailable for tomorrow’s rescheduled match against Western Sydney Wanderers after citing muscle tightness. He did not train with the team yesterday.
Krishna, one of 15 Phoenix players off-contract at the end of the current A-League season, has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids, who are rumoured to have made a play for the 30-year-old forward.
‘‘That’s something you will have to ask the club and not me,’’ was the response Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic provided when he was quizzed on Krishna’s future at the club.
‘‘Roy was complaining about tightness, which pushed us to send him, like Dura [Andrew Durante], to Auckland for a second opinion, and we had the same results like we got in Wellington,’’ Kalezic said.
‘‘That gives us expectation and hope that he will play against Western Sydney. He trained yesterday with the squad and he complained with the same result like in previous weeks. He didn’t train today so he will not be in the squad against Western Sydney and that’s only what I can say about Roy Krishna in this moment.’’
When pressed further, asked if Krishna was trying to force a move away from the club, Kalezic replied ‘‘that is a good question’’ before going on to highlight the player’s importance to the Phoenix.
‘‘You know Roy Krishna is a really important player for us and especially from the attacking point of view. You know also my way of playing is pretty much based on Roy Krishna and Andrija Kaludjerovic, especially after the departing of Dario Vidosic, so for me it’s really, really disappointing as a coach that he is not able to play since [our] great win against Newcastle.’’
Brought to the Phoenix as an injury replacement for Paul Ifill four years ago, Krishna has gone on to score 32 goals, leaving him just one short of equalling Ifill’s record as Wellington’s alltime leading scorer.
If he does not agree to a new contract, he could walk for free at the end of the season. That could tempt the Phoenix into cashing in on Krishna now, as the MLS transfer window remains open until May 1.
Meanwhile, Kalezic confirmed that rookie defender Liberato Cacace, who made his debut against Sydney FC last week, could start at left-back in what is looming as a must-win game against Wanderers, with Marco Rossi and Tom Doyle both ruled out through injury.
Even though he is just 17, and left training in his St Pat’s Town school uniform as he had classes to attend yesterday, Kalezic is giving the youngster every chance to push for a professional contract.
‘‘After the Christmas break I called Chris Greenacre and I invited Libby to train with us because he deserved that. I want to see him in the second part of the season on the training pitch with the first team and take conclusion for the next year, to make him maybe a first team squad player or not.’’
Monty Patterson has also been included in the travelling squad although the team’s other new signing, Tando Velaphi, has not.
The Phoenix sit eight points behind sixth-placed Wanderers on the table, meaning a loss tomorrow would be a huge blow to their playoff hopes.