Soccer: Phoenix triallists on show

Wellington Phoenix players train during the pre-season. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was pleased with the talent on display as a number of triallists turned out for the club's first hitout of the season against Miramar Rangers in Wellington last night.

Both sides were missing first-choice players with only Manny Muscat, Daniel, Andrew Durante, Mirjan Pavlovic, Ben Sigmund, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis starting for the Phoenix.

Herbert was keen to have a first look at two central defenders - Australian teenager Bryan Bran (Victoria Premier League side Oakleigh Cannons) and Englishman Sean Kelly - who had only had one training session after arriving in Wellington on Monday evening.

Both acquitted themselves well and will probably get another chance to impress when the Phoenix take on Western Suburbs next week.

Other triallists included former Gold Coast and Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Jess Vansttrattan, who was sidelined most of last season with a knee injury, Australian-based Nigerian Saka, former Mariners midfielder Nicky Travis and young Australian fullback Nick Tsattalios.

Spaniard Danny Sanchez, who has played in Spain's second division and has just been released by Scottish Premier League club Inverness Thistle, lined up less than two hours after stepping off a plane.

"It was good to have an opportunity to look at so many new lads in a game situation," Herbert said.

"Now we will see how they go in training. There are some interesting players trying out for us this season."

For the record, Phoenix won 2-0 with goals by Pavlovic, who also hit the crossbar with a header from a lovely Downey cross, and Daniel.

- NZPA