Ifill eyes January return

Wellington Phoenix forward Paul Ifill’s recovery from ankle surgery is on track, expecting to return by the end of January.

Ifill, who has 30 goals in 80 appearances for Wellington, expects to get the stitches out on Monday in a bid to regain fitness immediately.

“The surgeon originally said three to six weeks so hopefully I will be able to start getting back to fitness immediately,” Ifill said.

“There was a build-up of scar tissue from a pre-season injury that was affecting my mobility and he has cleared it all out.

“He is confident he has got all the scar tissue out and that I won’t have any more problems with it.”

Ifill has played nine times for the Phoenix this season, scoring two goals, but has not featured since a 3-1 defeat to Adelaide United on December 15.