Cameron Lindsay has signed with the Phoenix but the versatile Kiwi teenager won't take part in the club's A-League season opener as he waits for an international clearance.

Lindsay's signature from English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers means the Phoenix have finally ticked Football Federation Australia's dual boxes which require all A-League clubs to have a minimum 20 players on their roster as well as three players under the age of 21.

It also means the Phoenix at least have one young Kiwi on their books following midfielder Marco Rojas' departure to Melbourne Victory and defender James Musa being let go.

A Phoenix spokesman said Lindsay, who can play in defence or midfield, was yet to arrive in Wellington and would not travel with the team to the Gold Coast for their opener on Sunday.

Lindsay, 18, attended Auckland's Northcote College and was a product of Wynton Rufer's school of excellence before joining Ryan Nelsen at Blackburn in 2008 as an academy player.

The change of ownership from Terry Serepisos to Welnix Ltd on season eve left coach Ricki Herbert scrambling to complete his roster in time and Lindsay's signing will be a relief.

The Phoenix are also looking at signing injury replacements for midfielder Lucas Pantelis, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and striker Mirjan Pavlovic, who may miss up to two months with a broken arm.

A new striker is the club's most pressing concern, with Chris Greenacre the only fit, out-and-out frontman on the roster.

He is expected to lead the Phoenix line on Sunday, with support from wide men Paul Ifill and Leo Bertos and Spanish attacking midfielder Dani Sanchez.

American striker Alex Smith trained with the Phoenix yesterday but is not likely to travel to the Gold Coast with Herbert wanting to take more time to assess his quality.

Interestingly, Smith had originally signed to play the season with Gold Coast United but he was paid out of his contract and replaced by Dutchman Maceo Rigters, who scored a goal for the Phoenix during preseason before turning down an offer from the club.

The Phoenix had contracts in front of three European-based strikers but Herbert said that hunt had now been put on hold following discussions with the new owners, who are receptive to the idea of signing a marquee player during the season.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix yesterday announced that the club's principal sponsor, Sony, had renewed its partnership for another year.