Ifill form helps Phoenix rise

Ifill, 32, is playing a starring role in the Wellington club's surge up the ladder after coming back from injury a month ago.

”Central Coast and Brisbane are the best two teams in the league at the moment,” Ifill conceded.

”They have shown that in the last two seasons.

”They've been consistent over the last 18 months or so whereas we have been up and down and our road form is completely different to that of the Mariners and Brisbane.

”I think they both would be able to hold their own in the Championship in England.

”They would rate in the lower half of the competition … and I mean that in a positive way.

”When I got here in 2010 it was lower than that … more like League One.

”We are running second but I probably wouldn't even put us in that bracket.

”We've been playing well of late but we have a little bit of a way to go yet.

”But, don't get me wrong, we are in it to win it and we will be doing our very most to finish as high as possible.”

Ifill came in for a lot of praise from his coach Ricki Herbert after a devastating display against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium at the weekend.

Herbert said he had no doubt that Ifill was the best player in the A-League after his striker put in an excellent performance in a crucial 2-1 victory.

Ifill said he was flattered by Herbert's appraisal but conceded that such comments from his coach will put extra pressure on him to come up with the goods week in week out.

”It's nice to feel that your manager has faith in you and I suppose you can say that I am under pressure to produce better performances than those of local players, otherwise we shouldn't be here,” he said.

”If you bring in people from abroad who are not producing then it is not fair.

”I've always thought that imports should add something extra.

”Pressure actually is a good thing because it keeps you on your toes and helps you perform better.”

So have the A-League fans seen the best of Paul Ifill?

”Yes, I think so. My stint here has been the most productive part of my career,” he said.

”My first year was my best year ever and I'm getting back to that level now.

”I had a couple of bad years at Crystal Palace before I came here.

”But I'm happy playing and that has made a big difference to my football.”

Tony Pignata, the former Phoenix chief executive who played a key role in Ifill's acquisition in 2010, recalled the series of events that led to Ifill's prize capture.

”Ricki and I were in London on club business in March and we were urged to have a chat with Ifill, who had just been released by Palace," he said.

”He was trialling at Brighton at the time and nothing came of our talk.

”But I kept badgering him after we returned to New Zealand because we needed a second striker to go with Chris Greenacre and three months later he got in touch with us and in no time we agreed to a deal.

”From day one he fitted in beautifully in our set-up and I'm glad to say that he has turned out to be a top acquisition.”