Who was that youngster who stepped out for his Isuzu UTE A-League debut in Round 3?
Meet Anaru Cassidy. The Wellington Phoenix academy prospect was thrust into the action in a nameless number 50 shirt against Central Coast Mariners.
Cassidy was summoned by Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano after Japanese star Hideki Ishige succumbed to injury inside 18 minutes of last week’s 1-1 draw in Gosford.
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The highly-rated teenager could well emerge as a key player in this weekend’s blockbuster New Zealand derby against reigning premiers Auckland FC, not only amid a mounting injury list but based on Italiano’s post-game comments.
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“I feel really comfortable with Anaru because he’s a really a smart player,” Italiano told reporters.
“He’s one of the smartest players that have come through the academy.
“He was unlucky not to make the Under-20 World Cup squad but I was lucky enough that he trained with me while the 20s were away and he impressed me.”
It has been a rapid rise for Cassidy as a mouth-watering showdown with Auckland awaits the Phoenix at Sky Stadium on Saturday.
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Cassidy missed out on a spot in New Zealand’s squad for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
It did, however, pave the way for him to train with Italiano’s Wellington and he has not looked back.
This is another Phoenix product who has impressed this off-season.
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“I just felt the youngsters…had so much enthusiasm and energy about them and you could see what a big night it was for them playing in front of 25 thousand people,” Parkinson told media post-match at the time.
“To be fair to them the manager will be very pleased with how they’ve stood up to that challenge.
“They defended for their lives at times, always looked a threat on the counter [and] got good energy in the team. As we know they’re all fit, athletic lads.”
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