Phoenix ALM keeper wants his jersey back
Ed Jackson |
As well as youngster Alex Paulsen has done in his absence, Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail is seeking an immediate return to the A-League Men team’s starting XI.
Sail has been sidelined for more than six weeks after suffering a torn hip flexor in a 2-1 loss to Sydney FC before Christmas.
That injury thrust 19-year-old Paulsen into an unexpected first-choice role for the Phoenix, the teenager capturing attention with three saves in a penalty shootout triumph over Melbourne City in an FFA Cup quarter-final in early January.
Despite his impressive displays, Sail was blunt when asked if he’d feel bad for jumping straight back into the line-up at Paulsen’s expense.
“Honestly? No. It’s my job. I had to take the jersey off someone to get there and it took me a lot longer than I wanted,” the 26-year-old said.
“I’m not in a hurry to give the jersey up.
“It’s fantastic to see him do well but at the end of the day I’m here to play football and do my best for the club.
“I want that jersey back.”
Sail’s injury not only sidelined him for the Phoenix’s historic run to the FFA Cup semi-finals but cost him a call-up for New Zealand during last week’s FIFA window.
Yet to debut for the All Whites, Sail is eager to get back to playing regularly for the Phoenix in a bid to earn a call-up from national coach Danny Hay for World Cup qualifying fixtures in March.
And he’s hopeful Paulsen’s now-proven ability can be the competition he needs to perform at his peak should he get the nod from coach Ufuk Talay.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that I’ll have to perform and justify the decision that Uffy makes, if he makes that one,” Sail said.
“That’s something that Goffy (Phoenix goalkeeping coach Paul Gothard) has strived to put together within the club and the goalkeeping unit.
“He’s done a great job and AP’s done it superbly.
“Absolutely there’s now competition for the jersey and I like that.”
AAP
