Steven Taylor says new recruit David Ball will have Wellington Phoenix fans on the edge of their seats, tipping the striker to be a hit in the Hyundai A-League.
Ball signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix last week and will be tasked with replacing the goals of departed Johnny Warren Medallist Roy Krishna.
Krishna finished as the Hyundai A-League’s Golden Boot last season with 19 goals from 27 games, leaving a huge hole in Wellington’s attack.
In comparison, Ball scored seven goals in 42 appearances for Bradford City, who were relegated from League One in England.
But Taylor dismissed any concerns Ball is not up to the task and declared the 29-year-old will be a sensation in the Hyundai A-League.
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“What a player he is. The fans will be getting excited to see his ability… he brings to the team something we didn’t have last year,” Taylor said of the former FIFA Puskas Award nominee.
“He will definitely get the fans on the edge of their seat.
"[League One] is a difficult league, when you see the defenders he's playing against and the pressure that's put on, playing game after game.
"He's played 50-odd games a season and he's a very fit lad. I told him 'you come here and play, you'll have plenty of time to recover.'
“It’ll suit him down to the ground the way we play. He’ll really enjoy it. He's very talked-about back home. The fans will love him."
Ball is not the only new face in Wellington, with the club undergoing of a makeover under new boss Ufuk Talay.
Out have gone experienced heads like Krishna, Andrew Durante, David Williams and goalkeeper Filip Kurto.
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Talay has mostly gone with impressive young talent to fill their shoes, recruiting the likes of Kiwi youngsters Ben Waine (18) and Callum McCowatt (20), as well as Aussie youngsters Walter Scott (19), Cameron Devlin (21) and Liam McGing (20).
“A lot of young players have come through now, a lot of hungry players that want to prove a point,” Taylor said of Phoenix’s squad.
“It’s good, it’s healthy, good competition for everybody as well.
“It’s like a new era here in Wellington. I’m looking forward to it, I enjoyed last year and I can't wait for this year to get going.”
