We got word last night that Fred is heading to
Australia
New Zealand for a short-term loan with the Hyundai A-League's
Wellington FC Phoenix
. Per the A-League's loan policy, the Brazilian midfielder will be eligible to play six games for the Phoenix, beginning as early as their game Sunday evening.
Fred, of course, previously played a season in the A-League, leading the Melbourne Victory to the 2006-07 championship, before making his way to the District of Columbia.
The Phoenix currently sit in sixth place in the eight-team A-League with a record of 3-5-3, but have only scored ten goals - fewest in the league. With 10 games to be played, Wellington must move up in the standings to make the post-season, as only the top four teams advance. Check back, as we'll periodically keep you up-to-date on Fred's contributions.
What do you think about the loan? Is it a good move for Fred to stay sharp during the off-season?
UPDATE: By the way, I should clarify that though Fred will be playing in the A-League, the Phoenix are actually located in New Zealand - and are the lone team not based in Australia (think of them as the Toronto FC of the A-League). So, technically, Fred is only heading "down under" when his team plays away from home. Special thanks to our resident Australian, Matt Skinner, for correcting me. I suck at geography.
