Football: Phoenix players 'unlikely' to face Man United

Phoenix captain Andrew Durante
Phoenix captain Andrew Durante
Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante holds little hope that any of his teammates will make the A-League All Stars team to face English Premier League giants Manchester United in Sydney next year.

United return to Australia for the first time in 14 years for a one-off exhibition match on July 20, and have promised to bring a full-strength squad with superstars including Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Rio Ferdinand.

The Sir Alex Ferguson-coached team won't be coming to Australia for a holiday, with one official vowing they will be "here to win" and train intensively as part of their build-up to the 2013/14 Premier League season.

Fans will get to vote on who should be in the side in a pre-selection process, but Durante isn't optimistic the Phoenix's best will make the cut.

He singled out English playmaker Paul Ifill and in-form striker Jeremy Brockie - second in the running for the A-League's golden boot with seven goals - as two players who are worthy of the side.

"You've got Brockie and Ifill, two of the most exciting players in the league," Durante said.

"How many will get picked? Probably none. But those two are definitely standouts for an All Stars team."

Several A-League players, including Brett Emerton and Archie Thompson, are likely to be unavailable for the fixture as it clashes with the Socceroos' East Asian Cup campaign in South Korea.

Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop says details on how a coach will be selected have yet to be finalised, with Ange Postecoglou and Graham Arnold among the possibilities.

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