Phoenix A-League skipper out for months

Oct 19, 2017 - 2:55 AM Wellington A-League skipper and New Zealand central defender Andrew Durante has been ruled out for eight to 12 weeks with a groin injury.

Apart from missing months of A-League for the Phoenix, Durante is also out of contention for the All Whites' intercontinental World Cup playoff next month against Peru.

More information is expected once the 35-year-old centre back has seen a specialist.

He was subbed off in the 82nd minute of Wellington's 3-2 second-round loss on Sunday away to defending champions Sydney FC.

The Phoenix's defensive stocks are already low, with Italian Marco Rossi a late non-starter against Sydney - also with a groin injury.

The All Whites are two matches away from next year's World Cup in Russia, and need to beat world No.10 Peru on aggregate in a home-and-away series.

The first match is on November 11 in Wellington, with the return leg four days later in Lima.

Source: AAP






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