Soccer: Macallister tipped to make an impact

Dylan Macallister found the back of the net in the pre-season. Photo / Getty Images

The usual suspects are under way and the Wellington Phoenix's English strike force doubts it will be long before the odd man out makes his mark.

Chris Greenacre and Paul Ifill have already been on target two matches into the club's unbeaten start to the A-League season.

And Greenacre believes it's only a matter of time before Dylan Macallister, the new addition to the forward line, turns from goal provider to goal poacher.

Understandably the Australian is still finding his feet at the Phoenix but Greenacre already appreciates the so-called target man's nuances.

"For me, he's opened up one or two little gaps, he set me up for a goal against Gold Coast ... he gets labelled as a target man but he's far more than that," Greenacre said ahead of tomorrow night's first away assignment of the season at the Brisbane Roar.

"He's got a good touch, holds up the ball well and works hard around the pitch. He must be hard to defend against, he causes problems with his sheer size.

"It won't be too long before he gets his first goal for the Phoenix."

With last season's top scorer Ifill accorded a roving commission, Greenacre and Macallister are working on building their combination - a contrast that has worked well for the Englishman earlier in his career.

Greenacre, 11cm shorter than the 1.91-metre tall Australian, describes it as a "big and little" strike force, the sort of liaison that worked well with former Wales international Gareth Taylor and Calvin Zola at Tranmere Rovers.

"We speak a lot away from the field and obviously on the training pitch. Hopefully Dylan and I will blossom and thrive in the future," he said.

Greenacre added Macallister, who scored only once in 17 appearances for the Central Coast Mariners last season, would also ease the pressure on Ifill, one of the league's marked men after scoring 13 goals in a startling debut season.

"Having Dylan there, if Paul does find himself in trouble he can put the ball in the box knowing there's always going to be that extra striker there with Dylan.

"Any kind of aerial ball you know Dylan will attack it."

And he may have to at Suncorp Stadium as the Phoenix strive to unlock the only defence in the competition yet to concede a goal.

Practically written off before the season, Brisbane surprised by holding Gold Coast to 0-0 in round one before upsetting reigning champions Sydney FC 1-0.

"They're a young and enthusiastic team, Greenacre said.

"They got rid of a lot of the older pros last season and they've had a good start to the season."

One of the new acquisitions to make an impression is 20-year-old striker Costa Barbarouses, a foundation member of the Phoenix.

He made just 21 appearances in three seasons - and four starts last season - but Barbarouses has played every minute available for his new club.

"He's an exciting player and it was sad to see him leave," Greenacre said of his one-time rival.

"Not having a youth team meant he didn't get regular football. We wish him well, though not tomorrow night."

Although the Phoenix captured the imagination last season by making the preliminary final - where they were eliminated by Sydney FC - their record away from the security of home requires improvement.

Unbeaten in 21 games at Westpac Stadium, the Phoenix have not fared so well on the road. In 2009-10 they won on only three of 14 road trips and had to wait until round 15 before triumphing in Newcastle.

"We need to improve our away record and an early win will boost confidence even more," Greenacre said.

The unbeaten Phoenix are fourth after a 3-3 draw with Gold Coast and 2-0 defeat of the Mariners. They lost 1-4 on their last trip to Brisbane in November but won 2-1 during the pre-season.

- NZPA