Soccer: Four-month wait over for Argentine keeper

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The long wait is over for the Football Kingz' Argentine goalkeeper, Julio Cuello.

After warming the substitutes' bench since his previous National Soccer League appearance, against Northern Spirit in Sydney on November 3, Cuello will return to action against the Marconi Stallions at Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium tonight.

Cuello's return will bring the number of overseas-based players in the side to five. German striker Dennis Ibrahim comes in for Paul Urlovic to partner player-coach Wynton Rufer up front.

The other non-New Zealand players are Australian defenders Michael Cartwright and Levent Osman, and German midfielder Andy Bluhm.

The Kingz had the bye last weekend and the week off has given Mark Burton time to recover from the injury which forced him from the field in their last outing, in Perth.

Simon Eaddy, who continues to juggle his time between playing in goal for the Kingz and his teaching job, will be on the bench.

Chris Marsh, back training again after a groin injury, will stay home when the team travel this morning.

It is a key game for both sides. The Kingz are aiming to keep their slim play-off hopes alive and the Stallions are keen to hold their place in the top six.

Kingz general manager Chris Turner has dismissed any suggestion that players will be released for the revamped Qantas NZ National League, which kicks off on April 1.

Some from the squad of 23, including Chris Jackson and Che Bunce, who are hoping to be involved in the All Whites' World Cup campaign, would obviously prefer to be playing football.

"While we still have a mathematical chance of making the NSL play-offs, our players will not be going anywhere," Turner said. "Once we are out of it, we might look at it again."