Two of Wellington Phoenix’s new signings from Australia hope influence from their team-mates and a sprinkle of magic from coach Ernie Merrick will help them make an immediate impact in the Hyundai A-League.
Young defender Jacob Tratt and speedy winger Adam Parkhouse are two new faces in the Phoenix squad looking to make the most of their opportunity in the competition.
The pair have both been rewarded for excellent seasons in the PS4 NPL in NSW, where Parkhouse was voted as the competition’s best player, while Tratt helped Sydney United 58 finish in first spot.
But after impressing Merrick in the pre-season friendly with the Mariners on the weekend, Tratt won a one-year deal with Phoenix and plans on making the right-back position his own in Phoenix’s talented squad.
“I’m very ambitious and I want to push myself,” Tratt said.
“I had a year at Sydney FC last year but I didn’t reach my full potential. I think I learned a lot in that year to excel here in New Zealand under Ernie Merrick.
“The players that are here, they have been around here for a long time and I’ll just do my best to learn as much as I possibly can over the next year and try and progress as I go,” he added.
The duo get their next chance to push for selection for round one of the Hyundai A-League when Phoenix take on Central Coast Mariners in a friendly in Nelson on Saturday.
