Betsy Hassett played on with broken nose for Football Ferns, in doubt as Phoenix resume

A-League Women round 15: Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC

Where: North Harbour Stadium, Auckland; When: Sunday 1pm

Live coverage: Sky Sport 7, live updates on Stuff

Betsy Hassett played with a broken nose for the Football Ferns as they lost to Argentina on Thursday night and could yet be ruled out of the Wellington Phoenix’s A-League Women match in Auckland on Sunday.

Phoenix coach Natalie Lawrence said the veteran midfielder was also going through concussion protocols after being hit by Argentina striker Mariana Larroquette and that a final decision on her involvement would be made by the team doctor, with the break itself not a major concern.

Hassett received stitches on the field as play was halted for seven minutes during the second half of the Ferns’ 1-0 loss on Thursday at North Harbour Stadium, the venue the Phoenix will temporarily call home this Sunday when they play Sydney FC.

Six Phoenix players have spent most of the last fortnight away on international duty with the Ferns, including fullback Michaela Foster, who made her senior international debut against Argentina on Monday.

After starring for the Phoenix this season, Foster looked lively during her second-half cameo at left back, but wasn’t rewarded with a start in the rematch on Thursday, with right back Grace Neville getting the nod from coach Jitka Klimková to switch flanks.

When asked what she made of that decision, Lawrence struck a diplomatic tone.

“It’s quite easy to cast judgement when you’re not in the environment.

“Everyone has their own opinions on who should be played.

“I thought Mickey did really, really good when she came on both games and I’m sure that she’s somebody that will be in the frame for more minutes in the future.”

The Ferns’ failure to score across any of their three matches this month – the first two a 5-0 loss to Portugal and a 2-0 loss to Argentina – has led to renewed calls for the Phoenix’s exciting teenage forward, Milly Clegg, to receive a callup.

Ferns legend Maia Jackman has added her voice to the chorus calling for Clegg, a goalscorer at two age-group World Cups last year, to be given a chance with the Ferns, who have scored just eight open-play goals in 21 matches under their current coach.

Ahead of the February window both Klimková and Lawrence had urged patience with regard to introducing Clegg, who is yet to turn 18, but has scored two goals in 512 minutes for the Phoenix this summer.

Lawrence said Clegg’s task would now be to add to her tally over the Phoenix’s last seven matches, which all take place before the next international window at the start of April.

“She’s getting more and more minutes and opportunities with us. She’s getting more and more consistent with us.

“If you look at that window in April, that gives her another seven games with us.

“I think that will tell whether she’s ready or not – she’ll know and Jitka will know.

“I think she’s going to be somebody that scores a lot of goals for the Ferns.”

The Phoenix are set to have attacking midfielder Alyssa Whinham available for the first time in more than three months on Sunday, as she has completed her return-to-play programme after taking time out for personal reasons.

Grace Wisnewski has trained fully with the Phoenix after withdrawing from the Ferns for personal reasons two weeks ago, but fellow midfielder Izzy Gomez is out with a knee injury.

Captain and goalkeeper Lily Alfeld remains out with a back injury and there is no timeline for her return, with just five weeks remaining in the regular season.

Third-placed Sydney FC are the form team among the top four in A-League Women and will be heavy favourites to claim three points from their first trans-Tasman away trip.

The Phoenix head into the final stanza of the season looking to bridge the five-point gap between them and the 10th-placed Newcastle Jets in order to avoid the wooden spoon.