Wednesday's short passes: All the news you might have missed

Wellington Phoenix midfielder Lucas Pantelis is slowly approaching a return to training.  Soon after arriving in the New Zealand capital from Adelaide United, the 29-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury in pre-season.  He required a full knee reconstruction and has been forced to watch on as Phoenix have travelled through their A-League campaign.  "Hopefully by mid-June, when we're due back from the off-season, I want to really get involved at training and do pretty much what the other boys are apart from contact," the former Adelaide captain said.  "If I can get to June and nothing goes wrong and there are no setbacks then hopefully around July I can start with the contact stuff."

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Sydney FC are nearing their longest winning A-League streak since 2009 when they host Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.  Vitezslav Lavicka's Sydney defeated Perth Glory 2-1 at home on February 11, and backed that result up with another 2-1 victory away to Adelaide United last Sunday.  If they beat Wellington on Saturday, it will be the first time since December 2009 they have recorded three wins in succession.

Central Coast Mariners boss Graham Arnold says he feels for axed coach Miron Bleiberg and the embattled players of Gold Coast United, but will show no mercy in their clash at Skilled Park on Wednesday.  United split with Miron Bleiberg on Sunday, while owner Clive Palmer has gone to war with Football Federation Australia. "It must be tough for the club at the moment," Arnold told Sportal.  "As a coach, I sympathize with Miron. I feel sorry for any coach who gets the sack, because it's a hard gig.  We're up here to do a job," he said. "We've got ourselves in a good position and there is definitely no complacency in the dressing room."

Australia international Mile Jedinak is refusing to buy into talk of a Crystal Palace promotion push.  The defensive midfielder joined the Championship club in July, and has become a key part of the Eagles' campaign.  Palace have refused to spend outside their means in the Championship, and lie a creditable 12th on the table.  "We know we've got a lot of tough games to go but if we keep it positive and continue to play the way we’re playing then we are heading in the right direction," Jedinak told News Shopper.   "If we get there [top six] at the end of the day then fantastic, but if not then it’s a good thing to take into next season."