The Wellington Phoenix haven’t had much luck with the fullback position this season, but that appears to be changing with the arrival of English-born Shaun Timmins.
The Wellington Phoenix haven-t had much luck with the fullback position this season, but that appears to be changing with the arrival of English-born Shaun Timmins.
Fullbacks have been going down like flies. Louis Fenton, Reece Caira and Josh Brindell-South have all received season-ending injuries and it was the latter that opened the door to the first team for 22-year-old Timmins.
On the bench despite not having played much for four months, Timmins was thrown into the action 32 minutes into the game against Perth when Brindell-South turned an ankle on the uneven Westpac Stadium pitch.
Perhaps it was the adrenalin that kept him going, but Timmins threw himself into the game and was still bombing forward in the last few minutes as the Phoenix threw everything at the Perth goal to earn a draw.
“I-d tried to keep myself fit over those few months but it isn-t like training with a bunch of lads,” Timmins said.
“I had played a few games for Team Wellington, but it was at centre half and you don-t do a lot of running in that position.
“At left back you are forward and back a lot and I admit I like the freedom to get forward.
“I was looking forward to playing and when I got the call to go on I was buzzing.
“Sometimes it is someone else-s bad luck that gets you a break and that was the case this time.
“It was a shame for Josh because you don-t want that to happen to anyone but I have been in his position.
“I enjoyed it but it was tough and the boys around me were great, encouraging me and giving me feedback.”
It didn-t get easier when he was in the starting line-up against Heart at AAMI Park.
“The first 20 minutes I was getting forward and I thought it was going to be a really good game,” he said.
“Then Siggy was sent off and Heart were bombing players forward left, right and centre.
“I was just determined to help the lads grind out a result which we did, but I thought we should have won it.
“Hopefully on Saturday a few decisions will go our way for a change.”
Timmins is currently classed as a visa player for the Phoenix but is hopeful of becoming and Australian citizen in the near future.
Not being classed as a “foreigner” would help Timmins- chances of picking up a contract for next season and he is confident that his citizenship isn-t far off.
In the meantime he is happy to be back playing professionally at a good level and is determined to help the Phoenix earn three points at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
The only change to the squad from last week is the promotion of central defender Luke Adams as cover for the centre of defence with Ben Sigmund suspended.
Michael Boxall is likely to switch to centre back alongside captain Andrew Durante with Manny Muscat going to right back.
