Soccer: Lochhead keen to recapture best form

Tony Lochhead wants to recapture the form that led to his being regarded as one of the A-League's best defenders and earned the Wellington Phoenix fullback a trial with English premier league club Middlesbrough.

Lochhead was one of the Phoenix's standout performers in the club's inaugural season in the A-League in 2007-08, when his bursts up the left flank and accurate delivery to strikers created havoc for opposition defences.

But his form fell away after a return from a two-week trial with Middlesbrough before the start of the 2008-09 season.

"I certainly don't think I had as good a season last season as I did in the first," Lochhead said yesterday as the Phoenix prepare to play Queensland Roar in Brisbane tomorrow.

"I probably just didn't get involved as much attacking-wise as I would have liked, so that was disappointing.

"I think the team did much better as a whole, but on a personal note I would have liked to have done better."

Lochhead's combination with Brazilian midfield playmaker Daniel was superb in 2007-08 - the duo forming a fine understanding.

"Daniel didn't play as much in the second season, so there wasn't that same time to fine tune and further develop the combination.

"But it's my job to link with the players in front of me regardless of who is there. That's something I'm working on - being strong defensively but also getting up and down [the flank] and using the engine that I've got."

Lochhead admits the Phoenix's back four were disappointing in the season-opening loss to the Newcastle Jets and that there was still plenty to work on after the 2-1 win over Perth Glory in Wellington last weekend.

"We're trying to improve day in, day out. There was definitely a patch in the second half against Perth where we were put under a bit of pressure but games do tend to go in waves and we're working hard on minimising those chances the opposition has."

Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert said Lochhead and fellow fullback Manny Muscat would need to be on their game in Brisbane.

Herbert is likely to again favour an attacking mindset in Brisbane.

With Tim Brown unavailable through injury for at least another week, Diego is set to again start in the midfield after his first run-on appearance for the Phoenix against Perth.

Striker Paul Ifill has been under an injury cloud this week but Herbert is confident the Briton will play.

- NZPA