Phoenix player Niko Tsattalios. Photo / Dean Purcell.
Waitakere United v Wellington Phoenix
Douglas Field, Trusts Stadium
Tonight, 7.30
Waitakere United and the Wellington Phoenix will have new signings on show when they meet in a pre-season hit-out tonight.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert yesterday signed former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets fullback Niko Tsattalios while Waitakere coach Neil Emblen
confirmed he had signed East Coast Bays defender Ryan Zoghby for the upcoming ASB Premiership season.
Herbert said he had been impressed by Tsattalios, 21, since he arrived on trial a fortnight ago.
"He has done everything right and fitted into the squad well," Herbert said. "With such a long time till the season starts we have been taking our time and making sure we sign the right sort of player.
"Niko fits the bill well. He is a natural fullback who has had A-League experience and it is a bonus that he falls into our under-21 bracket. I thought he was the best player on the park in our 2-1 win over the Junior All Whites on Sunday."
Said Tsattalios: "It will be an honour to play for the Phoenix and I'm delighted that Ricki has given me the opportunity. I've been out of professional football for one and a half years and can't wait to get back into it.
"Now I just want to get stuck in and show Ricki he has made the right decision."
While Zoghby has joined Roy Krishna and a number of other players in signing with Waitakere, a number of players get their chance to impress Emblen tonight.
"We have brought in some players to bolster the squad as we have a few away," said Emblen. "Guys like Ross McKenzie, Ryan Elder, Sam Margetts who is with Three Kings and is the leading goalscorer in the northern premier and others like youngsters Keegan Linderboom and Sheldon Pillay get their chance."
Rory Turner, Jack Hobson-McVeigh will play a part as will Emblen and Waitakere regulars Martin Bullock, Chris Bale, Jake Butler, Allan Pearce and goalkeepers Danny Robinson and Andy Ralph and Ashton Pett who is off to an American university on a scholarship.
Emblen says it will be a challenge for his team but one they are looking forward to.
"They did what they had to against the under-20s on Sunday. They played the better football but, like us, they have three months before their season starts," said Emblen. "They should be fitter than our boys but it is great to play a game like this."
