Phoenix explain sudden Hernandez departure Breaking News Sport World Soccer Sport December 20, 2013 - 8:18AM Wellington Phoenix say injury was behind Carlos Hernandez's sudden departure from Australia but acknowledge the playmaker has off-field concerns. Hernandez flew home to Wellington on Thursday, hours before the Phoenix's 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners in Sydney, continuing their winless start to the A-League season. Various media reports said the Costa Rican international left the squad because he is unhappy about a delay in the arrival of his family to New Zealand. Coach Ernie Merrick said after the Mariners game there was some truth to the reports. However, his main concern was that Hernandez had suffered a recurrence to a thigh injury which had sidelined him from the 4-2 loss to Perth on December 6. The 31-year-old returned for last weekend's loss to the Brisbane Roar but Merrick didn't want to risk him in Thursday's game, three days out from Sunday's home fixture against Sydney FC. Merrick told The New Zealand Herald the Phoenix are still going through the process of securing arrival paperwork for Hernandez's family. Our staff have been working really hard to help him get passports and visas and all the rest of it for his family so I don't actually know what's going on there. Club general manager David Dome, who is overseas, wasn't aware of details surrounding the issue but understands it is not far from being resolved. He says Hernandez's sudden return home wasn't unusual. For cost reasons, the club's policy is for any player deemed unfit to play to depart. Jason Hicks flew to Sydney to replace Hernandez and started in the side who produced another frustrating result. They had the better of the game against the defending champions, creating a wealth of chances, but eventually fell to a 27th minute goal scored by New Zealand defender Storm Roux. The Phoenix have lost six and drawn four games to remain ninth in the 10-team league, ahead of the Melbourne Heart on goal differential.