Former Central Coast goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has signed with Wellington Phoenix for the remainder of the A-League season.
The 25-year-old was recently dumped by Turkish Super Lig club Konyaspor after signing a three-year deal with them in the off-season and has been snapped up by Ricki Herbert.
The signing is a timely one with first-choice goalkeeper Mark Paston under an injury cloud ahead of Friday’s match against Brisbane Roar after hurting his groin in Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Mariners.
Young keeper Reece Crowther is also out for at least two months with a fractured rib. Former Brisbane Roar keeper Griffin McMaster, who was signed as short-term injury cover for Crowther, will remain with the Phoenix in the interim.
Vukovic, who is due to train with his new team-mates on Tuesday, is expected to push Paston for the No.1 shirt.
“It’s great to have Danny onboard and he significantly boosts our goalkeeping stocks,” said Herbert.
“The competition for the starting goalkeeper’s spot is obviously going to be quite intense now. We’ve got an in-form keeper from the World Cup in Mark Paston, an Australian international in Danny and an upcoming young keeper in Reece Crowther.”
“Danny’s not coming here content to be No 2 – he’ll be pushing for that starting spot.”
Vukovic said he was excited by the prospect of playing regular football again.
“The Phoenix are probably the strongest they’ve been since they came into the competition, so I’m hoping I can come in and strengthen the side further and play as many games as possible.”
“We’ve got a few goalkeepers now all vying for one position, so it’ll be a good battle.”
He accepted he could cop a bit of stick if he displaced All Whites hero Paston from the Phoenix’s starting XI.
“He’s a national treasure now. It’ll be a tough challenge but I’m looking forward to it. We’re teammates now and the team comes first, so we’ll push each other hard and whoever plays will deserve it.”
