Muscat counts the cost of fame

The Malta international scored one of the goals of the weekend when his left-foot screamer against Newcastle Jets gave Phoenix an impressive 1-0 victory that shot it to outright third spot on the ladder.

It was Wellington's second away victory on the trot after it had waited more than a year for success outside the confines of Westpac Stadium.

Muscat is notoriously camera-shy and he was not too keen on appearing on television to talk about his stunning goal against the Jets.

But he simply had no option because Phoenix media manager Russell Gray basically forced him in front of the camera.

"Mate, after scoring goals like that there's no way you are getting out of this," Gray told Phoenix's latest hero.

Muscat is in Melbourne to be by his wife Rebecca's side who is expecting their first baby and there is a chance that he might miss Phoenix's home match with Melbourne Heart on Sunday.

"I don't mind doing interviews with the print media but I don't like being interviewed on television and I think my nerves showed in the post-match interview," Muscat, 27, said.

"But if I manage to score more goals for Phoenix I won't mind doing television interviews again.

"It was a great feeling to score my first goal for Wellington after so many games.

"Paul Ifill gave me a great ball on the right and after I cut inside I hit the ball with my left foot and after it went past the goalkeeper I just knew it was going to curl inside the post.

"I rarely get a chance to go on the attack so the goal was extra special."

Muscat said he hoped Wellington's current run of good form - four wins in the last five games - would give the team the impetus it needs to make a strong challenge at the business end of the A-League season.

"We've pulled away from seventh spot now so our aim is to stay in the six and secure a home final," Muscat said.

"And with Ifill back in the side we are very confident of reaching our aim."

Muscat has become one of Wellington's toughest and most consistent performers since joining the club from Victorian state league team Green Gully in 2008.

And coach Ricki Herbert cannot speak highly enough of his reliable member of the squad who is always one of the first to go on the team sheet.

Not surprisingly, Herbert rewarded Muscat with an extension of his contract at the weekend.

"Manny is doing a fantastic job for us," Herbert said.

"He's got better and better with each year and I have no hesitation in saying that he is one of the best and most consistent players in the league at the moment.

"Hopefully he will be available for Sunday but family priorities come first.

"If he isn't we will have to adjust as we usually do whenever a player is out."