Phoenix want club players held back from AWs game
He was delighted to see him score on his international debut, but Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay wants young star Callum McCowatt held back from New Zealand’s next match against Lithuania.
The 20-year-old forward hit the ground running in his first appearance for the All Whites, scoring the team’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to Ireland in Dublin yesterday. He was one of three Phoenix players named in the starting 11, with Liberato Cacace lining up at left-back and Stefan Marinovic playing in goal.
‘‘I’m very delighted for him to get a goal at international level. Also for Stefan, I thought Stefan had a great game as well. I’m very pleased with their performance,’’ Talay said. ‘‘That’s why we brought him in, he’s done that previously at Eastern Suburbs so hopefully he can continue that with us.
‘‘People need to understand that he’s only played five games in the A-League at professional level but I think he’s got the talent to be successful.’’
The All Whites play Lithuania in Vilnius on Monday, six days before winless Wellington’s next match against Brisbane Roar. The five Phoenix players involved are not due back in New Zealand until Wednesday.
All Whites coach Danny Hay has already indicated he will select an entirely different lineup meaning yesterday’s starters McCowatt, Cacace and Marinovic may not feature at all. But both Tim Payne and Alex Rufer are expected to start.
Due to the short turnaround, lengthy travel schedule and the fact the Lithuania game will be played on artificial turf, Talay said it would be in his club’s best interests for the Phoenix players to be kept on ice ahead of a crucial A-League game.
Star players Winston Reid, Chris Wood and Ryan Thomas will not travel to Vilnius but they are special cases given they play for big European clubs and have struggled with recent injury problems.
‘‘We’ve got a great open relationship with Danny and we’ve had that since day one, since I’ve been at Wellington Phoenix,’’ Talay said. ‘‘As much as I want him to be successful he wants the same for me on this side of things so there’s things we can weigh up and talk about.
‘‘These games are friendly games for him, they’re not important World Cup qualifiers so that’s a discussion we’ll have to have.’’ Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay on All Whites coach Danny Hay
‘‘These games are friendly games for him, they’re not important World Cup qualifiers so that’s a discussion we’ll have to have.
‘‘At the end of the day it’s great that the boys are getting international exposure but if I’m being selfish and if I’m going to think about myself for the weekend against Brisbane, then I don’t mind Stef playing in goal for the second game because I thought he did great and it’s great exposure for him but our other boys, I’d rather they rest up and don’t play.’’
But the scenario could be much worse for the Phoenix given eight of the 11 A-League clubs are playing through the international window. The only reason they don’t have a game this weekend is because they requested the first of their three byes to coincide with the two All Whites fixtures.
‘‘I think everywhere else in the world they do [recognise the international window], so why don’t we? Considering we’re the only professional team in New Zealand and most of our players are Kiwis, a lot of players are going to be away with the All Whites at times so we need to have a bye. You can’t have six or seven players away at a time and expect to perform on the weekend.’’
With six players away on international duty – Reno Piscopo is also in China with the Olyroos – Talay and assistant coach Chris Greenacre joined in yesterday’s session at Martin Luckie Park in order to boost the numbers at training.
‘‘At times it’s good for the players to have the coach joining in. I think they enjoy it but at the same time if we’re low on numbers then me and Greenie try to help out,’’ he said.
With no A-League match this weekend, Talay said he planned to drop seven players down to play for the reserve team in their national league match against Team Wellington.
Injured pair Gary Hooper and Louis Fenton were given modified training programmes as they continue to work their way back to full fitness. Talay said Fenton was further along in his recovery but both players are a chance to return for the Roar.