Soccer: Phoenix' Lochhead is injury free

Tony Lochead. Photo / Getty Images

Tony Lochhead doesn't want to say it too loudly in case he jinxes himself but he's virtually 100 per cent fit.

It's not something he's been able to say for more than two years as he's been battling a troublesome groin injury. It's often meant he's found training by himself or managing his way through games and it's impacted not only his effectiveness but also his enjoyment.

But the long A-League off-season has worked in his favour and, while his teammates were grumbling about not playing, Lochhead was appreciating the fact he could get himself ready.

He's the first to admit he hasn't been as good as he can over the past couple of years and, now he's fit again, wants to get back to the standards he set in his first season with the Phoenix in 2007/08.

"It's been pretty frustrating," Lochhead said ahead of their marathon journey to Perth to take on the Glory on Sunday. "I probably haven't enjoyed my football as much because you know you can do better than what you're doing.

"People don't know what you are going through so they say, 'oh, he's put in another bad performance or hasn't played as well as we thought he could'. It's frustrating. I know I can play better than I had been playing. It's not been fun to go through."

Last weekend's 2-0 defeat of Newcastle was more enjoyable and Lochhead got up and down the park and laid on the cross for Daniel to score the second goal.

Wellington face a difficult task on Sunday and not just because it's the second-biggest journey for any club fixture in the world. The Phoenix are down to the virtually the bare minimum with a number of injuries and will miss Paul Ifill, who aggravated his groin injury early in the game against Newcastle.

Perth are also one of the league's glamour sides and recruited heavily in the off-season. Among their off-season signings was All Whites striker and former Phoenix hitman Shane Smeltz.

Alex Smith, who was brought in as injury cover for striker Mirjan Pavlovic, is likely to start in midfield in the absence of the suspended Tim Brown with Daniel starting in a more advanced role for Ifill.

The toughest decision coach Ricki Herbert has to make is who starts between the sticks with Mark Paston fit again and Tony Warner having kept a clean sheet against Newcastle.

The contrasting off-seasons of the two clubs wasn't lost on Lochhead.

"We recognise they have recruited well and have brought in some good players," he said. "With Terry [Serepisos and his cashflow crisis] we couldn't bring anyone in. We can't dwell on it.

"I felt we have been playing alright with what we have got. It would be nice to bring in some more players but I think we are good enough with what we have. This weekend will be tough with the travel and not having everyone available but I think we can go there and get a result for sure."

Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante has added motivation to do well after the birth of his first child, daughter Adalyn, on Tuesday evening and was given permission to travel to Perth a day later than the rest of the squad.

"It was great to spend a night with them (wife Sarah and Adalyn) before flying off but I guess I will be spending the flight catching up on sleep," he joked.