Soccer: Hernandez has opposition's number

Carlos Hernandez. Photo / Paul Taylor

While Wellington Phoenix midfielder Carlos Hernandez continues to improve on the field this season, there's one thing he did miss out on when he arrived at the club.

When it came to picking his shirt number, Hernandez wanted his preferred No 16; a figure he has worn throughout his professional career. But Louis Fenton wears No 16 for the Phoenix and despite Hernandez's polite requests, Fenton wouldn't give up the digits.

Hernandez, who is 11 years Fenton's senior, even tried to buy the number off the 20-year-old - with some chatter suggesting he offered as much as $5000 - but Fenton stood firm. Hernandez's other suggestion was to wear No 61, but A-League regulations demand players in the full-time squad wear a number between one and 23.

Eventually, the matter was put to bed when the Costa Rican settled on No 21, because it was the best of the rest available to him, and while some players are superstitious about what number they wear it hasn't held Hernandez back.

Although he is a touch off his best since his glory days at the Melbourne Victory a few years ago, he is still one of the elite midfielders in the A-League. He has scored four goals this season, three of which have come from the penalty spot.

"It's confidence because I practice so much," Hernandez said of his penalty-taking routine. "One secret is looking at the goalkeeper. My eyes are looking, looking, looking, when the goalkeeper moves I decide which way to take the ball."

You can't argue with his record and Hernandez also gave Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic a cheeky wink at Eden Park last weekend before he gave the Phoenix the lead on their way to a 2-1 win over the South Australians. The pair used to play together at Melbourne Victory and Hernandez probably enjoyed scoring past an old sparring partner.

Tomorrow the eighth-placed Phoenix meet the Newcastle Jets across the Tasman. Hernandez's influence has become even more important following a groin injury to fellow midfielder Albert Riera, which could leave the Spaniard on the sidelines for up to a month.

Jason Hicks and Mathew Ridenton look set to join a depleted midfield tomorrow who will also be missing Kenny Cunningham through suspension. Right back Michael Boxall is another who will sit out tomorrow's game after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend and could be replaced by debutant-in-waiting Josh Brindell-South.

Despite the concerns this weekend, Hernandez remained convinced the Phoenix could finish the regular season with a playoff berth. "The team's on track and every week we are playing much better."