Former Juventus, Gold Coast and Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan is one of several players on trial with the Wellington Phoenix.
Vanstrattan, who will turn 29 this month, missed most of the last Hyundai A-League season with a knee injury but turned out in the Phoenix-s 2-0 pre-season win over Wellington club side Miramar Rangers on Wednesday night.
Also getting game-time was former Mariners midfielder Nicky Travis, Australia-based Nigerian Saka, central defenders Englishman Sean Kelly and Australian teenager Bryan Bran, young Australian full-back Nick Tsattalios and Spaniard Dani Sanchez, who has just been released by Scottish Premier League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Kelly had just one training session with the team under his belt after arriving on Monday evening, while Sanchez only landed in the New Zealand capital two hours before kick-off.
“It was good to have an opportunity to look at so many new lads in a game situation,” said Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.
“Now we will see how they go in training. There are some interesting players trying out for us this season.”
Only first-choice players Manny Muscat, Daniel, Andrew Durante, Mirjan Pavlovic, Ben Sigmund, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis started for the Phoenix with most withdrawn at half-time or just after to allow Herbert to look at the triallists.
Daniel and Pavlovic, who went off in the second half with an ankle injury, got the Phoenix goals.
Another pre-season game is scheduled against Wellington club side Western Suburbs next week.
