KEY POINTS:
Striker Jeremy Brockie sees his recall to the All Whites as reward for hard work he's put in after falling off the soccer radar.
Brockie, 20, was included this week in the 18-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia in Noumea on Saturday.
He replaces Glasgow Celtic's Chris Killen, who needs knee surgery.
Brockie's return to the All Whites after an 18-month break comes after his good form for both his winter club, Miramar Rangers, and for the Oly-Whites.
His 13 appearances for the New Zealand under-23 side this year have brought him eight goals, including the only one of New Zealand's Olympic campaign in China last month.
Brockie, whose seven caps have all been as a substitute, said coach Ricki Herbert's phone call on Monday had come as a bit of a surprise.
"I guess it's a little bit of reward for how I've been performing leading up to the Olympics and at the Olympics," he said.
"It shows what a bit of hard work can do."
Brockie first announced his promise as a teenager for the now-defunct New Zealand Knights, his four goals making him the club's equal top scorer in the A-League's debut season of 2005-6.
He then joined glamour side Sydney FC, but found he didn't get much game time.
He returned to New Zealand in the middle of last year with a year still to go on his contract and signed with New Zealand Football Championship side Hawke's Bay United.
"I admit myself that I went off the radar a little bit," he said, citing problems with dealing with his rapid early rise.
"But I got a lot of hard work done and got fit, so it was a bit of a reward, like I said."
Brockie's goal at the Olympics came in the Oly-Whites' opening match against China, when he smashed the ball home shortly after halftime to give his team the lead.
"I got put through, that's all I remember," he said.
"I just thought I'd smash it and it hit the back of the net."
The 10-man All Whites looked on course for a famous victory until former Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo equalised with minutes to go for a 1-1 final score.
Brockie played only one more match at the Olympics. Yellow cards picked up against China and in the 5-0 defeat to Brazil meant he sat out the 1-0 loss to Belgium.
- NZPA
