New midfielder Steven Ugarkovic will have to wait to make his Phoenix debut.
Bulgarian recruit Bozhidar Kraev is poised to make his first appearance for the Wellington Phoenix in the club’s Australia Cup round of 32 clash against second-tier Tasmanian side Devonport City Strikers on Wednesday.
However, they will be without two other new signings due to a “strange” ruling.
Steven Ugarkovic and loanee Lucas Mauragis have both been deemed ineligible to take the field for the Phoenix throughout the knockout cup campaign as they are cup tied from games they played with their previous clubs at the back end of last season.
Ugarkovic played for Western Sydney Wanderers and Mauragis for Newcastle Jets during a new playoff round for teams that finished in the bottom four of the A-League Men table.
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The Wanderers lost their playoff, meaning they failed to qualify for the Australia Cup proper, while the Jets won their match but were then knocked out in the round of 32.
“It’s a strange one,” Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said.
“I think it could possibly be changed or maybe players need to make a decision whether they play in those games or not if they’re going to decide to leave the club, because if they play in that game they’re cup-tied for the next club that they go to.”
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
New Wellington Phoenix signing Bozhidar Kraev speaks to reporters.
Talay confirmed Kraev would see his first minutes against the semi-professional side, who have former Phoenix goalkeeper Keegan Smith in their ranks, but likely from the bench after only arriving in New Zealand a fortnight ago.
“He’s only been with us a short time so we don’t expect him to start and play 90 minutes but we will try to give him some minutes within the game.
“He’s doing some extra stuff, obviously to try and catch up with where the rest of the boys are currently at but he’s looking good and has settled in quite well.”
The cup contest will be the Phoenix’s first competitive hit-out after a short pre-season but even without a couple of their new signings, as well as injured pair Alex Rufer and David Ball, they should still make light work of the NPL Tasmania leaders.
Devonport made it as far as the round of 16 stage in their two previous cup appearances in 2016 and 2018, but this is the first time they have been drawn to play A-League Men opposition.
The Phoenix have been upset by second-tier clubs in the past, but they are coming off their best-ever finish in the cup, after reaching the semifinals last season.
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