Squads Announced for Men's A-League Derby: Wellington Phoenix vs Auckland FC
Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC have released their provisional squads ahead of the men's A-League derby scheduled at Sky Stadium on Saturday. The match is part of a doubleheader featuring both women's and men's A-League games.
Injury Updates and Team News
- Wellington Phoenix will miss key players due to injury, including All Whites defender Tim Paine (broken collarbone), defender Manrekar James (quad strain), and winger Hideki Ishige (knee).
- Returning to Wellington Phoenix’s lineup is Lebanon international winger Ramy Najjarine.
- Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks after a hamstring injury sustained during last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Adelaide United.
- All Whites centre back Nando Pijnaker is anticipated to be available for Auckland FC following rehabilitation from offseason ankle surgery. He recently played half a match for the reserves.
Sky Stadium will host two games on Saturday as part of this exciting A-League doubleheader.
Wellington Phoenix Squad Preview
The final Wellington Phoenix squad will see two players omitted from the provisional list. The squad announcement sets the stage for an intense derby at Sky Stadium.
Author’s summary: Both squads preparing for the A-League derby face injury challenges, with key players returning and sidelined, promising a competitive match at Sky Stadium.