Teen Cameron Lindsay set for Phoenix debut

CRAIG SIMCOX/Fairfax NZ

DEBUT: Kiwi teenager Cameron Lindsay is in line to make his Wellington Phoenix debut at right back.

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Kiwi teenager Cameron Lindsay is in line to make his Wellington Phoenix debut at right back with Manny Muscat and Vince Lia both unlikely starters for Sunday's game against Melbourne Heart at Westpac Stadium.

Muscat is in Melbourne, with his wife Rebecca due to give birth and, while there is a chance he could return should the baby arrive early, the club are preparing to be without him.

Lia had been earmarked as the obvious replacement but his bruised knee is still troubling him and unless there is dramatic improvement at training today then Lindsay is set to get the nod.

It would be a tough introduction to the A-League for Lindsay, who has played across the back four and in midfield at Blackburn Rovers' academy and for New Zealand age-group teams.

But since arriving at the Phoenix he has concentrated on his development as a central midfielder and the Heart, boasting threats such as Mate Dugandzic, Eli Babalj and Aziz Behich, will be sure to throw plenty at the 19-year-old in the battle between three and four.

"I'd be happy to throw Cameron in," Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said.

"He's a young boy but he's a great talent for us and he's trained well, done everything well so we may have a look at him. If he gets his shot, he gets it and I think he'll roll up his sleevesand I don't think he'll let us down. If he does it won't be for want of trying. We've all started off somewhere at some stage in some competition, so if it's on the weekend, on Sunday, in a big game, I think he'll relish it."

Should Lindsay start it would demonstrate a glaring lack of faith in Jimmy Downey.

The pacy Australian was brought to the club to play at right back following Troy Hearfield's departure to the Central Coast but he has instead featured sparingly off the bench.

Leo Bertos, dropped to the bench for the road wins against Gold Coast United and Newcastle Jets, is also in line for a recall at the expense of Nick Ward, who has recovered from an ankle injury but is now nursing a hamstring complaint.

"If we need to rest him then certainly Leo's a good shot to come in," Herbert said.

"Leo's done a good job coming off the bench for us, he's looked bright and extremely positive, he's a chance to start."

The Heart have had a strange season, winning all five of their games in December to surge as high as second but their January record reads three losses and two draws.

The Phoenix have shown plenty of character and are outperforming the league's biggest spending clubs but Herbert is warning against complacency.

"We're only two thirds of the way through so there's a lot of work to do," he said. "We've got some tough games. I think we're higher than a lot of people probably anticipated. It's up to us now. The ball is certainly in our court. I think we warrant being there. It's not like we don't deserve to be in it, if we're good enough to stay there we'll stay there."

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