Soccer: Knights face drastic changes

Expect changes in the New Zealand Knights team to play Perth Glory in tomorrow night's A-League clash at North Harbour Stadium.

But beleaguered goalkeeper Danny Milosevic may not be among the casualties after last Sunday's embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Newcastle Jets.

Coach John Adshead will name his team after training this morning. He has already resigned himself to having to go into the match without captain Danny Hay, but was in no hurry to cast Milosevic aside.

Hay is out for four weeks with a groin injury. Jeremy Christie comes into the squad on a short-term basis as replacement, as he did when Naoki Imaya was sidelined earlier in the season.

Neil Emblen will lead the side in Hay's absence.

Apart from Hay and young defender Cole Tinkler, Adshead said he had a full squad to select from as he attempted to put the stuttering season back on track.

That could mean a first game for Imaya, who has been taking a full part in training after recovering from a broken leg.

Adshead said he would put out the best possible side and was unconcerned that that might mean playing an all-imports line-up.

The Knights played the second half of the game in Newcastle without any New Zealand-born or eligible players on the pitch.

"I don't even think about that," Adshead said. "As long as I can put out the best team available, I'm happy."

Of the loss to Newcastle, he said: "The first two goals were sloppy to say the least. All the good aspects of the game we displayed in the win over Central Coast were non-existent.

"As a team, our defence against Central Coast was outstanding.

"That followed individual errors which were responsible for four of the five goals we had conceded in earlier games.

"The team defence had been getting better and better and then it turns around and smashes you in the face."

Of his decision to make three changes at halftime on Sunday, He said he had to do something drastic.

"I emptied the bench in the hope of turning things around.

"In some ways we did. We gave away a sloppy penalty but we did have a goal disallowed which, on closer inspection, should have been awarded."

Adshead rejected calls for Glen Moss to replace Milosevic.

"Danny [Milosevic] made a couple of errors and yes, they looked as bad from where I was sitting as they did on television, but I will defend him to the hilt.

"You don't become a bad goalkeeper in one week. Against Central Coast he was outstanding."

The Knights have a difficult week with a short turnaround before tomorrow's 8pm kick-off against a Perth side who arrived in Auckland yesterday.