Soccer: Herbert gets chance to check out under-20 talent for Phoenix

Ricki Herbert will continue searching for the three players he must include in his squad. Photo / Supplied

Ricki Herbert will have his Wellington Phoenix hat firmly on when he puts his A-League side out in two matches in Auckland but admits he will take the opportunity to cast his eye over some of the country's best young talent as he continues his search for the three under-20 players he must include in his squad.

"These games are about continuing our preparation," said Herbert, who is grateful for the opportunity afforded him by New Zealand Football and Waitakere United in hosting games. "While I will obviously cast an eye over the under-20 lads, I have three World Cup games coming up where I can have a closer look.

"The games [against the World Cup-bound under-20s tomorrow and Waitakere on Wednesday] are part of our pre-season and the chance to have a look at a few players we have on trial. July 1 was our first meaningful training session so we are only three weeks into it.

"With some players coming back from injury or a break, I will be rotating the players as much as I can. A guy like Leo Bertos has had very little football lately but he is fully recovered and will probably play 45 minutes in each game. Likewise, Paul Ifill and Chris Greenacre are being eased back in."

Herbert said Mark Paston, another who missed a large chunk of last season through injury, is on his way back and is set to play both games although for New Zealand under-17 custodian Michael O'Keefe will travel as goalkeeping cover.

Herbert said he was still looking for an experienced goalkeeper to join Paston in the squad after Danny Vukovic moved on, as planned, at the end of last season to join the star-studded, new-look Perth Glory line-up. Also gone from last season's Phoenix squad are Marco Rojas (who will almost certainly play for the under-20s tomorrow), Diego, Toto, Dylan MacAllister, James Musa, Troy Hearfield and Reece Crowther.

Already re-signed are Paston, Manny Muscat, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Bertos, Ifill, Daniel, Greenacre, Mirjan Pavlovic, Vince Lia, Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante.

Newcomers signed are Lucas Pantelis (ex Adelaide United) and Jimmy Downey (ex Sparta Rotterdam and formerly with North Queensland fury).

Herbert will bring three trialists north. Nick Tsattalios (from the NSW premier league), who has been playing at left back in early trial games, Bryan Bran, 19, a big central defender from the Victorian Premier League, and Spaniard Dani Sanchez who has just been released by Scottish Premier side Inverness Thistle, will play in both games.

"Nick has done a good job," said Herbert. "As a 16-year-old he played for Sydney FC in the A-League. He gives us some cover at the back while we wait for Tony Lochhead to get back to full fitness.

"Sanchez, too, has done well and I will keep him here until the end of the month as we continue to assess things."

Herbert sees tomorrow's game as a good opportunity for the Junior All Whites to have a decent hit out a day before leaving for their World Cup.

"I don't know where they are at but this is a good opportunity for them to play a stronger team. It is in their interest to go out and play well for whatever reason. It is a chance to be seen."

The Phoenix open their new season away to the Gold Coast on October 9.

Of the situation surrounding club owner Terry Serepisos, Herbert said he had nothing to suggest it was not "business as usual", saying "we would not be in the position we are [in trialling players and preparing for the new season] if that was not the case".

It is expected announcements on new coaching staff will be made in about 10 days as Herbert replaces his departed assistants Luciano Trani (now in Adelaide) and Jonathan Gould (now with Perth Glory).

The fixtures

v New Zealand Under-20
North Harbour Stadium
Tomorrow 2pm
v Waitakere United Selection
Douglas Field, Trusts Stadium
Wednesday 7.30pm