New Zealand (1500/1 for World Cup) coach Ricki Herbert has named two uncapped players in his World Cup squad.
Aaron Clapham, a former under-20 international, has been included for the first time at senior level after being part of Herbert’s 15-man training squad that gathered for 12 days last month.
The 23-year-old caught Herbert’s eye in the weekend trial match when he created a goal during the New Zealand A victory against a New Zealand Football Championship All Stars XI.
Clapham set up the second goal in the 2-0 victory for Costa Barbarouses, and it was a performance that set the seal on his inclusion in the squad.
“He has come into this group and looked very comfortable,” said Herbert of the man who plays his football in the NZFC with Canterbury United.
“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.”
The other uncapped player to land a ticket to South Africa is Winston Reid of FC Midtjylland.
Herbert has largely kept his pledge to the 18-strong squad which landed New Zealand only their second appearance at the World Cup finals, via a two-legged playoff against Bahrain in November.
The only player to have missed out from that group is Aaron Scott, who was axed in favour of Reid.
Reid pledged his allegiance to New Zealand only recently, having represented Denmark at under-20 level, while Tommy Smith has also been recruited into the side.
The Ipswich Town player made his debut in March in the defeat to Mexico, having played at under-18 level for England.
Herbert said he was comfortable at having named David Mulligan despite the player not having featured for 46 matches for his club Wellington Phoenix.
Herbert, who also coaches Wellington, released Mulligan in April but said: “David has been a victim of circumstances at the Phoenix where other players have come in and played well, keeping him out of the team.
“He has never stopped working hard however and his attitude has been first class.”
There are seven Australian A-League players named in the squad, five of them coming from the Phoenix.
Wellington players to earn their place on the plane to South Africa are goalkeeper Mark Paston, defenders Tony Lochhead and Ben Sigmund, and midfielders Leo Bertos and Tim Brown.
Former Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz, who finished as the league’s top scorer last season with Gold Coast United, has secured his place in the squad, as has Newcastle Jets’ Jeremy Brockie.
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New Zealand (8/1 to qualify from Group F) are going to face a tough battle at this summer’s World Cup and their chances are not going to be helped by the lack of match action a number of their stars have seen in recent months.