Phoenix star set for shock A-League return
The A-League Men might not have seen the last of Oskar Zawada after all.
Wellington Phoenix’s star striker is poised to make a shock return ahead of the A-League Men finals series with two games left in the regular season.
Zawada was a surprise participant during the team’s training at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport yesterday morning after teasing a possible return on social media.
Last season’s top scorer was expected to miss the rest of the 2023-24 campaign following a complication with a thigh injury, which had already severely limited his involvement.
It’s understood Zawada resumed training yesterday with the view to being included in the travelling squad for Friday night’s penultimate-round clash against Newcastle Jets.
The Phoenix are scheduled to fly out of Wellington this afternoon, which would leave him with only two training sessions to prove his fitness for the match.
If he is passed fit to play, Zawada’s involvement would be a massive boost for the Phoenix, who enter round 26 in second but level on points with leaders Central Coast Mariners.
The Phoenix have never finished top of the table.
Even if he can play only a minor role, Zawada would be the perfect player to turn to on the bench should the Phoenix need to find a goal late in a match.
After scoring 15 goals in a spectacular first season in the A-League last season, Zawada was expected to play another starring role for the Phoenix this season.
But injuries have severely restricted his involvement and he has played just 535 minutes across 10 appearances.
Zawada has not featured for the Phoenix since they drew 0-0 with Perth Glory on February 24.
Zawada teased his possible return on social media last week, telling Phoenix fans “I will see you soon again” in a video which showed him running on a treadmill.
Coach Giancarlo Italiano was asked about the cryptic post before Friday’s stoppage-time win over Melbourne Victory. But he was coy on Zawada’s involvement, saying he would need to train before he could be considered for selection.
“He has to train first. That’s a big factor. Once he starts training and we feel like he can contribute then we will play him, but I can’t speak to his cryptic post.”
That first box has now been ticked, increasing the odds of a possible return at some stage before the end of the season.
It will not be known until today, when the Phoenix gather at Wellington Airport, whether Zawada has been cleared to travel to Newcastle.