Soccer: Contrasting club and country fortunes for Hay

Danny Hay has retained the captain's armband for the All Whites' two internationals against Malaysia this month.

But the central defender's future at club level remains clouded.

"Nothing's been decided," he said. "I'm just going to get these games for New Zealand under my belt and then decide what I want to do with my career."

Hay, 30, is off contract after completing a four-week deal with A-League side Perth Glory, who he first played for in the late 1990s before heading to Leeds United.

He rejoined the Glory after a falling out with the Auckland-based New Zealand Knights, with whom he parted ways in December after having been their inaugural skipper.

Hay said one consideration was whether he wanted to uproot himself again for the sake of a one or two-year contract.

"I've set up home here and my wife had a good job," he said.

"I could play in the domestic league and see a couple of seasons out, but who knows what's around the corner. Football's like that."

Meanwhile, Hay said his return to the All Whites in the 1-0 defeat to Australia in London last June had reignited his desire to represent his country.

The match at Craven Cottage was his 22nd for New Zealand, but his first after he announced his international retirement following the Confederations Cup in France two years earlier.

"The game against Australia really whetted the appetite for playing for my country," he said.

"There was a great mix of young and experienced guys. They had a great attitude and I'm just looking to getting back together with them."

Eight of the starting 11 against the Socceroos are in the 20-strong squad named yesterday for the friendlies against Malaysia in Christchurch and Auckland on February 19 and 23 respectively.

Of the three others, striker Vaughan Coveny will be drafted in if his Newcastle Jets are no longer involved in the A-League play-offs.

Neither injured defender Che Bunce nor goalkeeper Mark Paston, who is returning from shoulder surgery, were considered.

As was the case the last time around, Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen and Dutch-based midfielder Ivan Vicelich are among those unavailable.

Coach Ricki Herbert has included seven uncapped players, and Hay said they would be buzzing at the prospect of putting on the All White jersey for the first time.

"It's particularly nice that we're getting to play in front of a home crowd," he said.

"It has been a long time since we have been able to do that."

The matches will be the first at home for the All Whites in 3-1/2 years and are the first steps in the build-up to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Hay said he didn't have a lot of information on Malaysia, who at No 124 are three places below New Zealand in the Fifa rankings.

"I know some Australian players who have gone over and played in their domestic league," he said.

"From what they've told me, the Malaysians are quick and good on the ball. They are going to put out a competitive side and be difficult for us."

- NZPA