Injured trio Marco Rojas, Shane Smeltz and Dan Keat are ruled out of the squad but Ricki Herbert expects them back in plenty of time for the November World Cup qualifiers. While midfielder Michael McGlinchey will not be travelling with the squad as his wife is expecting their first child.
After impressing for New Zealand ‘A’ against Jordan and helping Waitakere City to the ASB Chatham Cup final, Jake Butler has been called into the senior squad for the first time.
Goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley will have a chance to stake his claim for a spot in the squad after Mark Paston confirmed his international retirement last month.
The absence of McGlinchey and Keat will give Tim Payne and Chris James the opportunity to push for a place in midfield as Ricki Herbert looks at all options with the World Cup qualifier in mind. Kris Bright and Chris James have been recalled to the squad after impressing for their clubs, IFK Mariehamn and Kuopion Palloseura respectively, in Finland.
The four-team tournament, involving Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, and New Zealand is to be held at King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The All Whites will play Saudi Arabia on 5 September in the semi final, and will play either UAE or CONCACAF opponents Trinidad & Tobago on 9 September.
New Zealand are currently ranked 57th in the FIFA World Rankings with Trinidad & Tobago in 78th, UAE in 84th and Saudi Arabia 107th.
The All Whites will play the fourth placed team in the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup qualification group in a two-legged playoff in November. The second leg will be played in Wellington on 20 November.
All Whites Squad
Goalkeepers
1 – Glen MOSS
12 – Jacob SPOONLEY
Defenders
2 – Winston REID
3 – Tony LOCHHEAD
4 – Ben SIGMUND
5 – Tommy SMITH
22 – Andrew DURANTE
Midfielders
6 – Jake BUTLER
7 – Leo BERTOS
13 – Chris JAMES
15 – Ivan VICELICH
18 – Tim PAYNE
19 – Kris BRIGHT
21 – Cameron HOWIESON
Forwards
10 – Chris KILLEN
16 – Jeremy BROCKIE
17 – Kosta BARBAROUSES
19 – Kris BRIGHT
20 – Chris WOOD
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football
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