Soccer: Fallon's confidence boost

Striker Rory Fallon, boosted by a run of goal-scoring form, is itching to get on the park for the opening leg of New Zealand's World Cup soccer playoff against Bahrain this weekend.

The match against the Persian Gulf state is in Manama on Sunday morning (NZ time) and one area of interest is how coach Ricki Herbert will deploy his options up front.

Herbert has a quartet of overseas-based strikers in his 19-man squad.

Apart from Fallon, who is with English club Plymouth Argyle, he has Chris Killen (Glasgow Celtic), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United) and 17-year-old Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion) at his disposal.

All four have been among the goals for their clubs since the start of their respective leagues.

"Whoever plays up front, we're in good hands, because we've got really good, talented strikers," Fallon said.

"This is probably the best strike force we've had for a long time. Whoever Ricki chooses, we've got to be professional and just do the job."

After representing England at youth level, Gisborne-born Fallon, 27, made his debut for the All Whites last month in their 3-1 win over Jordan in a friendly in Amman.

He was instrumental in New Zealand's equaliser, being pulled down in the box, and Smeltz slotted home the resulting penalty.

Noted for his aerial prowess, Fallon then put his side ahead with a header late in the first half.

On his return to England, he found himself recalled to the Plymouth line-up after having been dropped earlier in the season.

Fallon responded by scoring two goals, both headers, in the club's two fixtures in the second-tier English Championship since then.

The first was in a 2-1 victory at Peterborough, which was Argyle's first win of the season and ended a seven-match losing streak.

The second was in a similar result against Scunthorpe last weekend, when the Pilgrims managed to secure three points at home for the first time since April.

Fallon said he knew he had to make the most of his opportunity when manager Paul Sturrock put him back in the side, because it wouldn't last if he didn't.

"Then we got our first win of the season and then our first home win, and me scoring the winner in the first and getting the first goal in the second, so I'm feeling confident," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to playing against Bahrain and looking forward to going back home as well, because I just feel like I can score."

The return leg is in Wellington on November 14, with the winners of the tie getting a prized spot in the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Fallon's inclusion in the All Whites adds another link to 1982, the only occasion the All Whites have qualified for the World Cup.

The present coaching team of Herbert and assistant Brian Turner played in that campaign, which was guided by John Adshead and Fallon's father, Kevin.

- NZPA