Western United ALM Team News: Round 16 vs Wellington Phoenix

Rhys Bozinovski Western United

Western United will regain young midfielder Rhys Bozinovski for this weekend’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men trip to face Wellington Phoenix.

The youngster missed the last two matches for United with a muscle injury but has returned to training and is back in John Aloisi’s extended squad.

There is a first appearance in an Isuzu UTE A-League extended squad for young United full-back Charbel Shamoon.

Aloisi has handed seven debuts to Western United Academy products across Australia Cup and Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures this season, and Shamoon could cap off his 20th birthday by becoming the eighth on Saturday.

A technically gifted player capable of playing either on the right or left of the defence, Shamoon has impressed over two years in the Academy and will now be eying a senior debut.

Fellow Academy talents Jordan Lauton and Zach Lisolajski are in the extended squad again after making their respective debuts across United’s two recent games in Hobart.

James Donachie is among the 20-man list again and could be set to make his league debut for Western United, completing his recovery from a calf injury.

The centre-back was in the extended squad last week but just missed out on selection, hoping to make up for it this week with his first competitive appearance for Western United since September’s Australia Cup quarter-final.

On the injury front, Aloisi offered a positive update in his pre-match press conference, though Connor O’Toole will unfortunately face a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in last week’s draw with Sydney FC.

In more positive news, fellow left-back Ben Garuccio has avoided a serious muscle injury and is named in United’s 20-man squad, hoping to prove his fitness to make the trip across the Tasman sea.

READ MORE: Western United quartet earn Player of the Month nominations

Steven Lustica remains sidelined with a hamstring knock of his own but is continuing his rehab on the pitch, while Aloisi suggested Riku Danzaki could join team training from next week as he approaches the final stages of his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Full Western United extended squad

Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 4. James DONACHIE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Michael RUHS, 11. Daniel PENHA, 13. Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 36. Zach LISOLAJSKI, 38. Noah BOTIC, 39. Matthew GRIMALDI, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 44. Jordan LAUTON

Ins: 4. James DONACHIE, 29. Charbel SHAMOON (promoted), 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (returns from injury),

Outs: 24. Connor O’TOOLE (injured)

Unavailable: 10. Steven LUSTICA (injured), 77. Riku DANZAKI (injured)

Match Details

Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 16

Wellington Phoenix vs Western United

Saturday, 10 February

Kick-off: 3:30pm AEDT (5:30pm local time)

Sky Stadium, Wellington

Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+