New Zealand have named two uncapped players in their World Cup finals squad.
Two uncapped players for New Zealand
New Zealand have named two uncapped players in their World Cup finals squad.
Coach Ricki Herbert has confirmed his 23-man list, and named Winston Reid and Aaron Clapham in his party - both of whom have yet to play at senior level for the All Whites.
Defender Reid plays for Danish side FC Midtjylland, whilst midfielder Clapham is with New Zealand-based Canterbury United.
On Clapham's inclusion, Herbert said: "Aaron has come into this group and looked very comfortable.
"He is the type of player that should be around the international scene for many years and he has a big future in the professional game."
Herbert has named six-British based players including his captain Ryan Nelsen from Blackburn. The others are Ipswich's Tommy Smith, Chris Killen of Middlesbrough, Chris Wood of West Bromwich Albion, Plymouth's Rory Fallon and Michael McGlinchey of Motherwell.
The squad will now assemble in Auckland on May 19th ahead of a friendly with Australia in Melbourne.
The team will then spend time in Austria for a training camp and will play against both Serbia and Slovenia before heading to South Africa on June 6th.
New Zealand open their campaign against Slovakia on June 20th.
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), James Bannatyne (Team Wellington).
Defenders: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: Simon Elliott (unattached), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), David Mulligan (unattached), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Jeremy Christie (FC Tampa Bay).
Strikers: Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle).
