Alby Kelly-Heald Sidelined for the Season After Shoulder Surgery

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper suffers major setback but eyes U-20 World Cup return

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season after sustaining a significant shoulder injury in training earlier this month.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper, who had been enjoying a breakout season, dislocated his left shoulder and was unable to travel with the squad for the round 23 clash against Sydney FC. Subsequent MRI scans confirmed a torn labrum, requiring surgery and prematurely ending his campaign.

Breakout Season Cut Short

Kelly-Heald made his A-League debut in January and quickly established himself as a key figure between the posts, making eight consecutive starts and keeping two clean sheets. The setback is a bitter blow for the young keeper, who had cemented his place as Wellington’s number one.

“Obviously, I’m very gutted,” Kelly-Heald admitted. “Once you start playing, you expect to see out the season. You don’t anticipate injuries like this.

“I’m disappointed I can’t finish the season with the team, but I’ll be supporting from the sidelines.”

Road to Recovery and U-20 World Cup Hopes

Despite the setback, Kelly-Heald is determined to return stronger and is keeping a slim hope of making the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

“If everything goes perfectly—no hiccups—I think there’s a chance,” he said. “It’s not a high chance, but it’s still a possibility.

“The rehab process now is about strengthening my shoulder before surgery. Post-surgery, I’m looking at around six months of recovery, but I’ll be pushing to come back quicker. Hopefully, it won’t be too tough mentally as well as physically.”

Italiano: ‘A Small Bump in His Career’

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano expressed sympathy for Kelly-Heald but remains confident in his ability to bounce back.

“I’m disappointed for Alby on a personal level because he’s worked incredibly hard to claim the number one spot,” Italiano said. “It’s also a blow for the team because he’s brought us a lot of stability.

“But once he’s had surgery, he’ll be back in no time. This is just a small bump in his career.”

Oluwayemi and Boon Ready to Step Up

With Kelly-Heald sidelined, Italiano has faith in his backup goalkeepers, Josh Oluwayemi and Dublin Boon, to step up.

“Josh did well against Sydney and was ready for his opportunity,” Italiano said. “Dubs will also do a good job as an understudy.”