Soccer: Sanchez is key ingredient for the Phoenix

Dani Sanchez of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

Across four and a half years, more than 120 games and countless triallists, the Wellington Phoenix have never been able to find a genuine attacking central midfielder.

They have been blessed with rugged defensive players to clog up the midfield, such as Tim Brown and Vince Lia, but finding players to provide regular goals and assists has been an issue.

The list of blokes who have had a go in the middle of the paddock during the existence of the A-League club includes Felipe, Adrian Caceras, Toto Cornejo, Leilei Gao and Diego Walsh.

Most of those are likely to become nothing more than footnotes in the history of the club, but this season the Phoenix appear to have unearthed someone they can rely on in the form of Dani Sanchez.

The Spanish maestro has come into his own during the past two months for the Wellington franchise and it's no coincidence their rise up the A-League ladder has coincided with him being a regular in the starting side.

After a two-year spell with Scottish side Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, the fleet-footed 27-year-old turned up in New Zealand last year and played in a trial match for the Phoenix having barely stepped off the plane.

He was offered a one-year contract but after some eye-catching performances recently, coach Ricki Herbert signalled his intention to tie the creative midfielder to a long-term deal.

"I'm talking to the manager. But that's all I can say to you. But I'm happy," Sanchez said this week.

"I'm not thinking about this. I'm thinking about the next game. Trying to win away, because we are not doing very well away. But if I do well, everything's going to work out and I'm happy playing here."

After being hampered by niggling injuries early in the season, Sanchez's breakout performance came three weeks ago when he bagged a first-half brace against the Newcastle Jets at Westpac Stadium as he steered the Phoenix to a 5-2 victory.

In the absence of Paul Ifill, who was hobbled with a groin complaint, Sanchez provided the attacking spark Wellington miss when Ifill isn't in the side.

"Every game, I feel better," Sanchez said. "I think the only thing, I have a little injury problem in my knee. So it's frustrating because it's a little bit sore. But it's alright. I feel good. I feel comfortable with the other players.

"I love to play with Daniel. He's a good player and he makes me look good when I pass the ball to him. You know he's going to do something. I'm really happy to play with him."

Sanchez's ability to create play in the middle of the pitch, behind veteran striker Chris Greenacre, gives Herbert another attacking option that allows Ifill to play out wide, which is the preferred position for the Barbados international.

Ifill's impending return to the starting XI could spell disaster for Daniel, who may make way for the 32-year-old given Herbert's seemingly unshakeable desire to start Leo Bertos, despite the All White having an inconsistent season.

The Phoenix meet Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on Sunday as they search for their first away win of the campaign.

Sanchez, leading scorer this season with four goals, said the side needed a different mindset when they travelled.

"Honestly, I think we do some great football playing away. But sometimes the luck, sometimes the referee, sometimes we miss chances to score. But I think when we play at home we have the winning mentality. I think we have to change this [on the road], the mentality and that's it and maybe a little detail. But I think we have to be going with what we are doing, trying to play well. Trying to play football."

The fourth-placed Phoenix stay in Australia next week and meet the Newcastle Jets on Friday night.

If they want to stay in the top four and push to host a playoff game they need to find some form on the road with seven of their last 11 games to be played away this season.