Soccer: All Whites lose young pair

Marco Rojas. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand men's football team has been hit by the late withdrawal of Tommy Smith and Marco Rojas from the squad for their match against Mexico in Denver on Thursday (NZT).

Both players were not on the flight to the United States today with Smith ruled out of the match, and the June 5 fixture against Australia in Adelaide, with a back injury, while Rojas is too ill to travel.

The 21-year-old Smith, who was named young player of the year at the 2010 New Zealand Football awards last night, is having treatment on a prolapsed disc.

Rojas, who has been laid low with a viral infection and did not train while the Australian-based All Whites were in camp, will recuperate with his family in Hamilton before joining the team in Australia.

- NZPA