Signing news: Phoenix starlet lands contract extension after unlikely role in Krishna's City match-winner

Wellington Phoenix teenager Callan Elliot has signed an extension that will see him remain in New Zealand until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 campaign.

Scottish-born Elliot, 19, made his debut off the bench in Phoenix’s 8-2 trouncing of Central Coast Mariners in March.

He has made two further substitute cameos since, featuring in Wellington’s 4-1 win over Newcastle Jets in Round 23 and taking the corner which led to Roy Krishna’s stoppage-time victory over Melbourne City last Sunday.

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Elliot revealed to stuff.nz on Wednesday that he was not supposed to take the corner, but did so as he was the closest to the corner flag with the five minutes of stoppage time nearly up.

"[Alex] Rufer was on the field and I thought he was going to take it but he was just standing in the box waiting for a corner to come in so I thought I'd just take it," Elliot said.

"I just thought 'don't kick it out', that was the main one, [and I aimed] for the back post because I knew the tall boys were back there like Cillian [Sheridan]."

A match-winning contribution: Phoenix youngster Callan Elliot's pin-point corner delivery

Elliot is a former protégé of club legend Paul Ifill, who helped hone his craft after accepting him into the Paul Ifill Academy as a 15-year-old, and then as a teammate at Tasman United in New Zealand’s top local competition.

"I am overjoyed to have extended my stay here at the club and I can't wait to kick on and improve,” Elliot told the club’s website.

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"Since signing here last year, I have enjoyed every moment of being in this professional environment.

"I have made sure to listen to all the advice from the coaches and players to aid my development so I will continue to listen and continue to improve."

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This article was originally published on the Hyundai A-League website.
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