Young Goalkeeper Jack Duncan will make his Perth Glory debut in Wellington against the Phoenix in the Round 22 Hyundai A-League fixture at Westpac Stadium, after being named in Coach Kenny Lowe’s initial 18 man squad.
Young Goalkeeper Jack Duncan will make his Perth Glory debut in Wellington against the Phoenix in the Round 22 Hyundai A-League fixture at Westpac Stadium, after being named in Coach Kenny Lowe-s initial 18 man squad.
Duncan-s promotion to the starting line-up follows Danny Vukovic-s move to Graham Arnold-s J League side Vegalta Sendai on loan for 5 months. With Duncan set to start, Foxtel NYL Goalkeeper Luke Radonich is also promoted to the first team squad as cover for Duncan.
Michael Thwaite is also a noticeable return, after serving a one match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards. Defender Matthew Davies also finds a spot in the squad after several strong performances in Glory-s Foxtel NYL team.
Striker Shane Smeltz who was a late withdrawal from the All Whites side that lost to Japan on Wednesday night has been declared fit for Sunday-s game and will join the squad in New Zealand on Saturday.
The Phoenix has also named an 18 man squad after last week-s 5-1 loss to Adelaide United. Coach Ernie Merrick will be concerned that five of his squad played a part in New Zealand-s 4-2 loss in Tokyo but no new injuries worries have been reported.
Former Glory man Leo Bertos returns to the squad after an injury lay off and midfielder Jason Hicks has been promoted. An interesting addition to the squad is former ECU Joondalup and Sorrento player Shaun Timmins, who has been signed as an injury replacement after impressing the Wellington coaching staff on trial.
Glory has faced the Phoenix twice already this season with Glory taking full points at home in December after a 4-2 victory and playing out a one-all draw in Christchurch in October.
Perth Glory squad: 2.Jack CLISBY, 3.Brandon O-NEILL, 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 8.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jamie MACLAREN, 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 17.Chris HAROLD, 18.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Daniel DE SILVA, 23. Michael THWAITE, 24.Matthew DAVIES, 28.Darvydas SERNAS, 36.William GALLAS, 39.Luke RADONICH (gk)
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 23.Michael THWAITE (return from suspension), 24.Matthew DAVIES (promoted), 39.Luke RADONICH (promoted)
Outs: 1.Daniel VUKOVIC (loan)
Unavailable: Travis DODD (knee – indefinite), Scott JAMIESON (Achilles – indefinite)
