Wellington Phoenix defender Sam Sutton will miss the team’s long-awaited return to New Zealand after testing positive to COVID-19.
Sutton wasn’t selected for Wednesday’s A-League Men win over Perth Glory after returning a positive test, with James McGarry taking the left-back’s place.
The 20-year-old Kiwi will now have to stay in isolation in Sydney when the Phoenix fly home before the Easter Sunday clash with Central Coast in Wellington.
It will be the Phoenix’s first game on home soil in over 300 days and coach Ufuk Talay said it was devastating to leave Sutton in Australia, where the team has been in camp for so long during the pandemic.
“It’s gut-wrenching for Sutts,” Talay said.
“Not being able to come back with the team and enjoy being back at home and being able to play in front of our fans.
“I’m very disappointed for him.”
Sunday’s game will be the first of two back-to-back matches in New Zealand after trans-Tasman flights resumed with the New Zealand government easing border restrictions on Australian travellers.
The Phoenix host Western Sydney at Eden Park in Auckland on April 24.
Sutton, who comes from Auckland, is expected to leave isolation next Thursday and could feature against the Wanderers.
Talay said Sutton is the only player to have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team’s trip to New Zealand.
