Soccer: Herbert faces front line dilemma

Wellington's Paul Ifill is struggling with a hamstring injury. Photo / Getty Images

With Daniel away and Paul Ifill struggling with a hamstring injury, the Phoenix front line is looking a little worse for wear as they approach Sunday's A-League soccer match against Central Coast in Wellington.

Ifill, a key playmaker for Wellington, had to leave the field during last weekend's 1-1 draw with North Queensland after suffering a hamstring injury that left him unavailable for trainings this week.

Coach Ricki Herbert said whether Ifill would face the Mariners would be a last minute decision.

"He's probably gone from 70-30 to 50-50 as we speak, so time's the only real thing in our favour at the moment," Herbert said.

"He's been excellent for us, but these things are always opportunities for other players in the squad."

Daniel would also be unavailable for Sunday's match after returning to Brazil where his wife had just given birth.

The two absences would damage Wellington's attacking potential, given that Herbert held the pair up as the team's up front strikers along with Chris Greenacre.

Herbert rejected suggestions he was playing an overly defensive team, saying he never played one player up front and putting the team's lacklustre season record of one win, two losses and four draws down to being unable to finish chances that were being created.

"I think it's about taking some of those chances now. We've created over 38 chances in the last three games, we're the form-team in the league as far as creating chances out of all the 10 teams, so we're doing things right except putting it in the back of the net," he said.

Despite his confidence in the team's attack, Herbert said Greenacre might need more support.

"He's doing a lot of work off the ball and we'll just try and retain him a little more central."

The striker himself agreed there were times when he was getting isolated.

"We're trying to work hard to get people around me and hopefully give a little more support," Greenacre said.

He said it was important the team did not focus on the disappointing result from last weekend's draw.

"To concede the way we did was absolutely heartbreaking, but we've just got to take the positives out of the game, keep doing what we're doing."

Meanwhile, the Mariners are likely to be riding high after a 3-0 victory over top-of-the-table team Gold Coast last weekend.

"Central Coast will be a handful, they always have been, they're in pretty good form so again the challenges get no less, but as long as we can keep getting the chances up I think time will change it for us," Herbert said.

Among the in-form Central Coast players is New Zealand midfielder Michael McGlinchy, who recently played alongside several of the Phoenix players in the All Whites' Middle East clash with Jordan.

"He's having a really good year for the Mariners, which on the flipside is really great for the national team as well. He'll be a handful, he's a good little player," Herbert said.

- NZPA