Soccer: Emblen returns at last for Knights

Neil Emblen

Defender Neil Emblen will make his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines when the New Zealand Knights host A-League soccer high fliers Sydney FC tomorrow night.

The former English Premiership player has been out of action with a knee injury since the Knights' 3-0 away loss to Melbourne 2-1/2 months ago.

Manager John Adshead today also named six New Zealanders in his squad of 15 for the match at North Harbour Stadium.

They include striker Kris Bright and midfielder Jeremy Christie, who both started the season as apprentices.

Bright is on a short-term contract as replacement for injured Australian Joshua Rose, while Christie got a full-time call-up after Ronnie Bull was released last month for family reasons.

The match will be the Knights' first after the three-week December break, during which they have also seen two other players depart -- striker Simon Yeo and inaugural skipper Danny Hay.

Like Bull, Yeo has returned to England, while Hay had his contract terminated last week after differences with the club.

With six rounds to go, the Knights, with just a win and a draw from 15 matches, are 14 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

They are the only side in the eight-strong league who are already out of contention for a top-four playoff spot.

Adshead said the fixture against Sydney FC marked a return to business.

"This is very much back to reality," he said.

"All sides we play over the next six weeks will be desperate for points, none more so than Sydney as they chase Adelaide at the top of the table."

Sydney FC were in Japan for the pre-Christmas Fifa World Club Championship during the A-League break.

They arrived in Auckland yesterday minus star signing Dwight Yorke, who is due in tonight.

Yorke will be making his first visit to New Zealand.

The former Manchester United striker missed Sydney's 3-1 win at North Harbour in round two because of commitments with Trinidad and Tobago, who have since qualified for next year's World Cup finals.

New Zealand Knights:
Danny Milosevic, Darren Bazeley (captain), John Tambouras, Neil Emblen, Ben Collett, Sean Devine, Zenon Caravella, Cole Tinkler, Jeremy Brockie, Noah Hickey, Frank van Eijs, Naoki Imaya, Glen Moss, Jeremy Christie, Kris Bright.

- NZPA