Squads Announced for Men's A-League Derby Between Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC
Provisional squads have been released by Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC ahead of their men's A-League derby at Sky Stadium on Saturday. This match is part of a double header featuring both women's and men's A-League games.
Team Injury Updates
Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players as they prepare for the game.
Wellington Phoenix Injury Report
- Tim Paine (All Whites defender) is sidelined with a broken collarbone.
- Manrekar James (defender) is out due to a quad strain.
- Winger Hideki Ishige is unavailable because of a knee injury.
Returning to the Phoenix squad is Lebanon international winger Ramy Najjarine.
Auckland FC Injury Report
- Captain Hiroki Sakai is expected to miss about six weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in their recent 2-1 victory over Adelaide United.
- Centre back Nando Pijnaker, an All Whites player, is anticipated to be available after recovering from ankle surgery during the off-season. He recently played half a game for Auckland FC's reserves.
Sky Stadium will host two games on Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix will need to omit two players from their provisional squad ahead of the match.
Summary: Both Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC prepare for a key A-League derby at Sky Stadium while managing critical player injuries and returns ahead of Saturday's double header event.