Football: Hawke's Bay United lose English import Adam Thurston at critical point in campaign

Hawke's Bay United general manager Shane McKenzie

Another starting XI player has left Hawke's Bay United during a critical stage of the national summer soccer league.

English import Adam Thurston caught a flight out of Palmerston North airport for Adelaide, Australia, after the Thirsty Whale-sponsored Hawke's Bay franchise team beat second-placed Eastern Suburbs 2-0 at Memorial Park on Sunday.

"He's gone back to a club in Adelaide where he played before he came to Hawke's Bay United," said franchise general manager Shane McKenzie last night before Bay United play Tasman United away at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, in a 2pm kick off this Sunday.

The 23-year-old hovered between the engine room and the coal face in the ISPS Handa Premiership campaign and his absence will prompt coach Brett Angell to go back to his drawing board to rejig his lineup.

It's another blow for the side who a fortnight ago lost the services of robust defender Hayden McHenery when he returned to his hometown of Brisbane.

With four games remaining to decide the playoff, contenders Bay United face the onerous task of winning all of them or kissing this summer goodbye for a side who have made every cut under Angell's four-season tenure.

"We knew prior to the Palmerston North game that he was leaving," McKenzie revealed, adding Thurston intended to leave earlier but prolonged his stay until last weekend's game.

"He was another player we would have liked to have kept until the end of the season but, obviously, it's not the case and we'll just move on."

He said that's why the franchise was active in the transfer window by the January 24 deadline to woo Tinashe Marowa, Sam De St Croix, Jordan Lamb and returning Bay United veteran Danny Wilson.

Hamilton-born defender Liam Hayes slipped back to the Wanderers.

McKenzie said Ghanaian/American import striker Samuel Adjei's hamstring has been diagnosed and he was unlikely to play until round 16 against Canterbury United on February 25 with an O-League game break buying him some time while Auckland City FC and Team Wellington fulfil their obliogations.

The only other injury concern is Gavin Hoy who came off second best in a 50-50 tackle.

He said Angell would shuffle his pack to find someone to fill the void Thurston left behind.

Among the contenders are Hastings midfielders Karan Mandair and Bjorn Christensen who played in the central position for the Havelock North Wanderers in the Lotto Federation League during winter.