New Zealand international Ben Waine has scored off the bench for Plymouth Argyle in their 2-1 loss to Leeds United in the English Championship.
Waine (22) entered the game in the 57th minute and found the net with six minutes left, timing his run into the Leeds box to meet a cross from Luke Cundle.
The goal was Waine’s first in the competition this season and earned praise from his manager Steven Schumacher.
“We always say it, whether you start the game or you come off the bench, make an impact for us. It’s hugely important that everyone knows their roles,” he said in his post-game media interview.
“We work so hard on that, making sure the whole squad know what the game plan is.
“When Ben Waine came on I thought he did well. He gave us that focal point at the top end of the pitch and we scored a great goal.”
Waine has been fighting to earn a place in the Argyle starting line-up and before the match, Schumacher told Plymouth Live:
“It’s over to him. We won’t just give him a run of games because he hasn’t had one. He has got to earn it, and he understands that.
“The training sessions that he does through the week have to be top standard. He has got to be on it all the time. He has got to work hard and he has got to try to see his performances improve every game. That’s what it’s about.
“Hopefully he gets a run of games. If he stakes his claim then it’s up to the other two (forwards) when they are fit to try to get back in the team, and that’s how any good squad should be.”
Waine joined Argyle in January from the Wellington Phoenix who received an undisclosed transfer fee.
He is in the All Whites squad to face Greece and Republic of Ireland in the November international window.
Watch Ben Waine’s goal for Argyle
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday November 18, 2023 (NZT)
Greece v New Zealand
Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Athens, Greece, 6am (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday November 22, 2023 (NZT)
Ireland v New Zealand
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 8.45am (NZT)