Captain Andrew Durante looks set to miss Wellington Phoenix’s Hyundai A-League clash against Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Andrew Durante looks set to miss Wellington Phoenix’s Hyundai A-League clash against Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon.
Durante has been laid low with a virus which caused vomiting and resulted in the 30-year-old spending Friday night in hospital.
Durante has been one of the rocks of the Phoenix defence since his arrival at the club in 2008 and has rarely missed a game.
He marshalled a novice back four in the 1-1 draw with Melbourne Heart last weekend and his absence will be a blow for a Phoenix side facing one of the most potent attacking teams in the league.
While Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has named his skipper in the squad for Sunday’s match at Westpac Stadium he is not hopeful he will take the field.
“It has been that kind of week,” Herbert said.
“The last 10 days have been interesting with players away on international duty and young Cameron (Lindsay) taking ill in Melbourne last week.
“Just when we thought we were over the worst our captain goes down with a virus but we just have to get on with the job if he can’t play.”
Michael Boxall, who played alongside Durante against Heart last week with Ben Sigmund on international duty with the All Whites, is the obvious replacement.
Herbert is bracing himself for a tough game against the two-time champions but is confident his side, boosted by the return of All Whites Sigmund, Tony Lochhead, Leo Bertos, Mark Paston, Glen Moss and Jeremy Brockie, are up to the task.
“Brisbane are a strong side and they are coming here on the back of a top result (a 5-0 win over Melbourne Victory) and it should be a great game,” he said.
“At home we have been able to get at teams and this game is no different. They are a difficult team to contain but I-m confident we can match them.”
