{"id":324850,"date":"2025-03-24T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/?p=324850"},"modified":"2025-03-24T10:45:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T21:45:48","slug":"young-keeper-requires-shoulder-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/young-keeper-requires-shoulder-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Young 'keeper requires shoulder surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alby Kelly-Heald will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper dislocated his shoulder at training earlier this month and didn\u2019t travel to Sydney for the round 23 match against the Sky Blues.

An MRI has since revealed a torn labrum in his left shoulder which requires surgery, cutting short his breakout season.

Kelly-Heald, 20, made eight successive starts from when he made his A-League debut in January and kept two clean sheets.

\u201cObviously I\u2019m very gutted,\u201d Kelly-Heald said. \u201cWhen you start playing you see yourself continuing to play the rest of the season. You don\u2019t anticipate any big injuries or anything like this.

\u201cI\u2019m disappointed I can\u2019t finish the season off with the team, but I\u2019ll be supporting on the sideline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Alby Kelly-Heald made eight successive starts for the Wellington Phoenix from when he made his debut against Sydney FC in January. Photo: Cam McIntosh\/Photomac.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kelly-Heald is determined \u201cto come back fitter and stronger\u201d and remains hopeful of returning in time for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September and October.

\u201cIf everything goes perfectly, there are no hiccups and we can get everything done really quickly I think there is a chance.

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously not a high chance, but I think there\u2019s still a slither.

\u201cThe rehab process now is strengthening it up until I get surgery and then post-surgery I\u2019ll be looking at something around six months or so. I\u2019ll be aiming for a bit quicker.

\u201cHopefully it’s not too tough on the mind as well as it is physically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 03: Alby Kelly-Heald makes a save during a Wellington Phoenix A-league training session on October 03, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano feels for Kelly-Heald and the team.

\u201cI\u2019m disappointed for Alby on a personal note because he\u2019s done a lot of hard work to get the number one spot,\u201d Italiano said.

\u201cIt\u2019s also disappointing for the team dynamic because since he\u2019s come in he\u2019s given us a lot of security.

\u201cBut once he\u2019s had surgery he\u2019ll be back in no time and it\u2019s just a small little bump in his career.\u201d

Italiano also has faith in Josh Oluwayemi and Dublin Boon to step up in Kelly-Heald\u2019s absence.

\u201cWe saw Joshy step up against Sydney, which was good.

\u201cHe was ready for his opportunity and Dubs will do a good job as an understudy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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