Soccer: Cole, Rowley to miss long haul south

Already facing the hardest out-of-town trip in the New Zealand Football Championship, Waitakere City coach Steve Cain has new concerns.

In-form Shannon Cole is out for at least two weeks after pulling up with a hamstring injury on Thursday night, and defender Jason Rowley will also miss the testing all-day trip to Dunedin for tomorrow's clash with Otago United.

Rowley has been coughing blood as the result of a virus and will stay home.

Cole's withdrawal has allowed Cain to bring in former German age-group international Marcel Isakowitz for the first time. He joins the Cardozo brothers Pablo and Richie as the team's three allowable imports.

"It is a real blow losing Shannon," said Cain. "He pulled up at training like someone had shot him.

"Initially we thought it could be four to six weeks but after having him checked, he might miss only a couple of games."

Cain will need to make changes, with Hone Fowler likely to play left back and Sam Jasper going to the substitutes' bench.

Cole, man of the match in Waitakere's first two games, is taking it hard.

"At first it felt really bad, but it is a bit better now," he said yesterday.

"It is the first time I've missed a game in a long time through injury."

The third round kicks off this afternoon, with most interest at Kiwitea St and Auckland City's battle with Canterbury United.

Allan Jones' City side have scored twice in three of the four halves of football they have played this season.

More of the same would probably get them home in this one but they will need to beat former back-up City goalkeeper James Bannatyne.

He moved south to live in Wellington but is playing football under Danny Halligan at Canterbury United after lack of interest from the capital side.

In other action today, Hawkes Bay United will be all out to break their duck when they play near-rivals YoungHeart Manawatu at Park Island.