New Phoenix striker on target pre-season
Fit-again Wellington Phoenix striker Jaushua Sotirio made up for lost time by scoring against his former club.
Signed from Western Sydney Wanderers, Sotirio had missed the first month of the pre-season due a quad injury.
But he has hit the ground running upon his return, scoring in a 1-1 draw with the Wanderers during a 10-day camp in Sydney, where the Phoenix also took on Sydney FC and Wollongong Wolves. They drew 0-0 with Sydney and beat Wollongong 4-0.
‘‘We had a good, solid 10 days in Sydney and played three friendly games, two against A-League competition and those were our first A-League opponents, and I think we played well against them,’’ Sotirio said. ‘‘We’re just trying to gel as a team, we have a lot of fresh faces and that sort of experience was good.
‘‘Facing the A-League opponents was definitely good for us to try and improve our game and get ready for the start of the competition.’’
Prior to joining the Phoenix on a one-year deal, the 23-year-old Australian had spent his entire professional career at Western Sydney and he said it was a strange feeling lining up against them. ‘‘It was a bit of a different feeling but I scored a goal against them and I think I had good performance. But it will be even sweeter if I score in season against them,’’ he said.
‘‘You always want to give a little bit extra against your former club so scoring against them was good. But as I said, in season will be even better.’’
Despite picking up a quad injury that kept him out of the FFA Cup clash against Brisbane Strikers, Sotirio has made an otherwise seamless transition into his new surroundings.
‘‘I was injured for about a month with my quad injury so getting that confidence back and match minutes is definitely good for me.
‘‘I’ve been here two or three months now and it’s definitely different to Sydney but I’m enjoying it and with the boys every day.’’
With the club still in the market for an import striker, Sotirio is among a handful of forwards hoping to lock down a starting role.
But he faces strong competition from Englishman David Ball and 18-year-old Ben Waine, who has scored eight times during the pre-season but is now away with the New Zealand under-23 men’s team.
Wingers Callum McCowatt and Reno Piscopo are also options to play up front.
The Phoenix will conclude their pre-season with matches against Melbourne Victory and Team Wellington, the dates of those fixtures yet to be confirmed.