A-League Women round 11: Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar
Where: AJ Kelly Park, Brisbane When: Saturday, 5pm (NZT)
Live coverage: Sky Sports 7, live updates on Stuff
Teen Wellington Phoenix goalscorer Milly Clegg could be a potential star in the making, but coach Natalie Lawrence has urged patience with her youngest squad member.
The Auckland high school student delivered a breakout performance during the Phoenix’s surprise 5-0 defeat of Canberra United last weekend.
Clegg scored one goal, set up another and created a fantastic early chance that was not wasted by threading the ball through four defenders.
Lawrence, Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková and even Clegg herself have all been asked about the 17-year-old’s potential as a World Cup bolster in the wake of her dazzling display against Canberra.
But while Lawrence believes it’s a matter of when, not if, the ‘special’ talent becomes a full New Zealand international after representing her country at the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup tournaments last year, she is careful about rushing Clegg’s development.
“It is still important that we are very careful. She’s only just turned 17,” Lawrence said.
“She’s so educated and her parents have done well, so she’s not getting ahead of herself and it’s really important that we’re really patient with her.
“I can only see her performance getting better, but she is super, super young.”
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Phoenix ahead of charges against Canberra.
Clegg is the daughter of former New Zealand field hockey international Kylie Clegg (née Foy).
She signed an amateur contract with the Phoenix to maintain her NCAA eligibility should she wish to receive a scholarship in the United States.
Lawrence appreciated the excitement surrounding Clegg’s potential, but said the key was for the rising star to deliver those performances on a consistent basis.
“I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of Milly over the next few years, she’s pretty exciting.
“We’ve been patient with her so far and we will continue to be…if we can develop her territories [of weakness] and keep her performance consistent, a call from Ferns wouldn’t be far off.
With a bye to follow, the Phoenix are determined to build on their drought-breaking win by posting another positive on Saturday against sixth-place Brisbane Roar as they look to come off the bottom of the table.
Lawrence should reward the players who started the game by naming an unchanged 11, with Clegg lining up for a fresh start on the right wing.
“A big win like that gives you that confidence, gives the players the belief that what we’re trying to do is going to work,” she said.
“Now, if we can back that up and finish the season really strong, it will all be worth it.”