Youth to the Ata glance

Finn Surman was preparing for a game against his former club Selwyn United when his phone rang.

It was Wellington Phoenix operations manager Shaun Gill calling.

He told the 18-year-old centreback to grab his passport and pack his bags.

Surman would not be playing for the Phoenix reserve team that weekend as he was needed in Australia to provide cover for the first team ahead of a busy run of fixtures.

‘‘It was pretty crazy. I was just sitting in my room on a Thursday and I got a call from Gilly saying they wanted us to come over,’’ Surman said.

‘‘There was a range of different emotions because obviously I was a bit sad that I was not going to be able to play against Selwyn and against my mates – I was there for five-six years – but then the excitement kind of took over that I was going to get an opportunity to come over and be with the first team.’’

Surman was one of four players to make their debut for the Phoenix men in 1-0 win over Western United in Geelong in the FFA Cup on Tuesday night.

Ben Waine scored with a header in the 35th minute to seal

Right, Finn Surman plays the ball out from the back during his Wellington Phoenix debut against Western United in the FFA Cup.

Above, Ben Waine, left, celebrates his winning goal with Kurtis Mogg. progression through to the round of 16 for just the second time in the club’s history.

Surman, who played the full 90 at centre-back, was only 12 yearsold when the Phoenix last won a game in the FFA Cup, against Central Coast Mariners in 2015.

He was the first player born in 2003 to turn out for the Phoenix men.

The other debutants were Kurtis Mogg, Luka Prso and

Oskar van Hattum.

‘‘It was pretty special, to be honest,’’ the Cantabrian said.

‘‘I wasn’t expecting to start when I came here. I wasn’t expecting to play many games. So getting the opportunity was pretty big for me.

‘‘I was buzzing before and after the game.’’

By beating Western, the Phoenix have landed a date with NPL club Avondale in Melbourne

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Ben Waine 35’) Western United 0. HT: 1-0. next Tuesday night. Melbourne City await the winner in the quarterfinal.

Coach Ufuk Talay will likely call on his younger players for the next cup game as well as the Phoenix have another A-League Men match to play tomorrow, against Newcastle Jets.

After getting his first taste against Western United, Surman was hoping for another shot against Avondale, who have former Team Wellington players Mario Barcia and Scott Hilliar in their ranks.

‘‘I want to continue to keep training hard and keep learning off the pros because there’s some really good things I can learn off these guys who have been playing for a while, but I’m targeting the next FFA Cup game in a week’s time to try and get myself back in the squad, and get some more game time.’’