Soccer: Christie heads to US for game time

Jeremy Christie wants to raise his chances of making the All Whites World Cup squad. Photo / Dean Purcell

All Whites utility Jeremy Christie is off to join the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US second tier North American Soccer League and will not play for Waitakere United in today's New Zealand Football Championship home game with YoungHeart Manawatu.

Christie hopes the February 1 move will enable him to force his way back into the All Whites squad for the World Cup.

But as Christie prepares to move on, New Zealand under-20 captain Jack Pelter has joined the club and will be on the bench at Fred Taylor Park.

Former Central United, Auckland City and Three Kings midfielder Luis del Monte also took advantage of the short mid-season transfer window to join Waitakere.

Under-17 international Ashton Pett has also been added to United's O-League squad and as an academy player will be available for the NZFC. Paul Seaman returns from injury to join the NZFC and O-League squad.

Christie, who led New Zealand at the 1999 Fifa Under-17 World Cup and went on to play for the under-20s before making his first of 20 or so All Whites appearances in 2005 against Australia in London, has signed a two-year deal with the Florida club.

Christie played in five of the six Oceania World Cup qualifiers and in all three Confederations Cup matches but was dropped from the squad for the home and away ties against Bahrain.

Auckland City, at home tomorrow, have made few changes to their squad with no big names going out or coming in.

NZFC ROUND NINE

* Waitakere United v YoungHeart Manawatu
- Fred Taylor Park Today 2pm

* Auckland City v Team Wellington
- Kiwitea St Tomorrow 2pm