Football: Otago out to rejuvenate season

Coach Richard Murray may be forced to change his team line-up when Otago United plays Manawatu at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.

"We need a shake-up," Murray said.

"Some guys have not been performing and it may be time to re-think our team selection."

Both teams suffered identical heavy defeats last week, when Otago was thumped 5-0 by top team Waitakere, while Manawatu lost to Hawkes Bay by the same score.

Manawatu is bottom of the ASB Premiership. Despite having recruited a top coach in Stu Jacobs, the Palmerston North side has conceded 40 goals, including 21 in the last three games.

Shorn of its most experienced players, Otago has yet to regain the winning form it showed early in the season, and four consecutive defeats have tested morale.

"We are very much a work in progress, as the squad adjust to recent changes, but we may have to jolt players out of their comfort zone," Murray said.

"Obviously, this a very important match for both sides, and we are keen to earn the points we need to restart our season.

"Apart from the players who left for jobs overseas, we have also had a string of niggling injuries, and some have still to come right, but we will field a competitive side on Sunday."

Murray is delighted that Tristan Prattley has been invited back for a second Olympic squad training camp from February 7-12. United's captain will hope to progress to the next phase of preparation, an international friendly with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne.

Centreback Matt Joy returns after a week's suspension, which will have helped relieve his recent toe problem, but left fullback Craig Ferguson could be sidelined due to a groin issue.

Murray has brought some good youngsters into the squad, including Aajay Cunningham, younger brother of Mike, who performed so well in midfield before he emigrated. New Costa Rican signing Jose Cantillo also made a promising start last week.

Up front, Ant Hancock will lead the attack, paired with the returning James Govan or Donnie MacGregor, as Otago tries to convert the many chances it creates into goals.

Earlier this season, Otago won 3-2 in Palmerston North, but only after the fright of goals by Nobu Ishi and Jimmy Haidakis which gave Manawatu a handy 2-0 lead.

Jacobs has made adjustments by bringing in keeper Ben Wilkes, Matt Kennedy, Michael Sheridan and Wade Randle to freshen his team.

Hamish Kay is suspended, and both Matt Boren and Barry Lewis are unavailable. Nathan Cooksley is injured.

But Manawatu has scored more goals than Otago this season, and if striker Seule Soromon and Haidakis hit form, that could swing the match for Jacobs' side.

Attendance could be swollen by hundreds of Masters Games footballers competing in the immediate area, who are allowed free entry into Forsyth Barr Stadium for the ASB Premiership match.

Otago v Manawatu
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, noon
Otago United: Peter Evans, Liam Lockhart, Tristan Prattley (captain), Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Seamus Ryder, Donnie MacGregor, Ant Hancock, James Govan, Sam Mepham, Harley Rodeka, Matt Brook, Jose Cantillo, Oswaldo Rodriguez.

Manawatu: Ben Wilkes, Josh Chettleburgh, Jamie O'Connor, Matt Kennedy (captain), Jared Curtis, Seule Soromon, Jimmy Haidakis, Michael Sheridan, Pablo Moya, Stuart Lawrie, Michael Fraser, Jordan Martens, Andrew Drake, Souley Cissoko, Wade Randle, Michael McKnight, Izaia Burston.