I'd add I don't think the squad is threadbare. Colakovski was always a bonus signing, becoming available last minute just before the season started.
OVH, GSR, Ball and the talented Brooke-Smith will all be sitting back in NZ this weekend.
Rojas is now starting, so we can only assume is approaching full fitness.
Semantics but Walker will be 19 next month. That's not too young, to hold your own in the ALM.
The other guy to mention that's keeping OVH out of squads now is Supyk. Again you can only guess that at training, him & Walker are showing more than van Hattum. At least in Chiefy's eyes, who sees them every day.
Having said all this, Italiano may still make a signing in the Jan window. But with all 5 visa spots taken, he will have limited options to choose from. Noting season will be a 3rd over, so anyone coming in has to be fit, and quickly be a useful addition.
Jay Herdman? Oli Whyte? Myer Bevan? Anyone from the rumoured Perth Glory clean out? Auckland might as well release Joey Champness!
Edit - I’ll also throw Monty Patterson into the mix. Watch almost zero National League, but from what I’ve read he was an absolute standout at Birkenhead, and a better more mature player than when last at the Nix
OVH, GSR, Ball and the talented Brooke-Smith will all be sitting back in NZ this weekend.
Rojas is now starting, so we can only assume is approaching full fitness.
Semantics but Walker will be 19 next month. That's not too young, to hold your own in the ALM.
The other guy to mention that's keeping OVH out of squads now is Supyk. Again you can only guess that at training, him & Walker are showing more than van Hattum. At least in Chiefy's eyes, who sees them every day.
Having said all this, Italiano may still make a signing in the Jan window. But with all 5 visa spots taken, he will have limited options to choose from. Noting season will be a 3rd over, so anyone coming in has to be fit, and quickly be a useful addition.
Jay Herdman? Oli Whyte? Myer Bevan? Anyone from the rumoured Perth Glory clean out? Auckland might as well release Joey Champness!
Edit - I’ll also throw Monty Patterson into the mix. Watch almost zero National League, but from what I’ve read he was an absolute standout at Birkenhead, and a better more mature player than when last at the Nix