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NZ Knights' Moss keen on opportunity [Wed Sep 21st, 2005]
All White Glen Moss says he is ready to make the most of his A-League football debut for the New Zealand Knights in Auckland.
An injury to first-choice goalkeeper Danny Milosevic opened the way for Moss, who was named in the starting 11 to face the Perth Glory at North Harbour Stadium.
After starring in the 2-0 win over the Central Coast two rounds ago, Milosevic had an unhappy time in the 0-4 defeat to Newcastle last Sunday.
However, manager John Adshead said the big Australian hadn't been dropped, but would have played if he had been fit.
Milosevic's injury is in the hip and upper leg area and has restricted his ability to kick a ball.
Moss, 22, said his lack of game time after four matches on the bench was not a concern and he was looking forward to grabbing his opportunity with both hands.
"You do all the hard yards pre-season and you have to be ready when your chances comes," he said.
"If I can get out there and have a good game, it will make the coach have a good hard think about who he's going to play the next week against Adelaide and further on."
The defeat to the Jets sent the Knights to the bottom of the table on goal difference, after a win and three losses.
Perth, who were champions in the last two Australian NSL seasons, have also made a slow start.
One win, one draw and two losses have left them just a point above the Knights.
But Moss was expecting a busy time against the Glory, whose attack boasts names such as former English Premier League striker Brian Deane and ex-Australian international Bobby Despotovski.
He admitted spirits within the Knights camp had been down immediately after the loss to Newcastle.
But they had lifted again over the past two days, with the usual banter returning to training.
One big positive for the Knights, after successive trips by air and road to Gosford and then Newcastle, was that they would be home in the next two rounds.
"Most of the boys are pretty sick of travelling after two weeks of going back and forwards to Sydney and then the drive up the coast," Moss said.
"We're looking forward to going out here and giving the home fans something to cheer about."
Apart from Moss, two other Knights could also make their league debuts - Japanese midfielder Naoki Imaya and Dutch defender Frank van Eijs.
Imaya is returning from a broken leg, while van Eijs' pre-season was disrupted by a viral illness.
NZPA
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