Soccer: Surprise new face in All Whites squad

Craig Henderson. Photo / Getty Images

Craig Henderson represents the shape of things to come.

Whether he goes to the World Cup finals, or takes a significant part in them, remains to be seen.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert yesterday named the 22-year-old, who has just signed for Swedish first division club Mjallby, in a 17-man squad for the All Whites' friendly against Mexico in Pasadena, Los Angeles, early next month.

Henderson is a selection out of left-field. Tommy Smith, a left-sided defender playing for English club Brentford, is the other newcomer. His selection had long been predicted.

Henderson was part of the Olympic under-23 side, setting up New Zealand's only goal in Beijing two years ago.

From Lower Hutt, he had an impressive American college career.

Despite the size of New Zealand's World Cup task in South Africa come June, Herbert says he is also building for the future. He wanted to avoid old mistakes when highs were followed by a "void ... a brand new squad".

Henderson is an attacking midfielder, with pace, who can play on either side.

New Zealand will take on Mexico without veteran defender Ivan Vicelich, whose red card in a friendly against Jordan last September rules him out.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston, the hero against Bahrain, is absent because of a broken leg, replaced by previous No 1 Glen Moss, who is under a full international suspension that will keep him out of the first two games in South Africa.

Defenders Aaron Scott, battling back from injury with Waitakere, and David Mulligan, overlooked by Herbert at the Phoenix this season, miss out although the coach says that they remain firmly in the World Cup hunt.

Herbert hinted strongly he would continue to play the attacking Leo Bertos in a right-sided wing back role, a controversial move that had mixed results against Bahrain, to see if it could work against a side as classy as Mexico.

Former Westlake Boys High student Smith, the 19-year-old who has resworn his New Zealand allegiance after playing youth games for England, is a natural successor to Vicelich.

He will get significant game time against Mexico on very little preparation - the All Whites will squeeze one training in before the rushed midweek fixture.

On the vexed subject of Rory Fallon, who is reluctant to leave his struggling English club, Herbert confirmed that he had talked to Plymouth manager Paul Mariner.

The Mexico game is during a Fifa international window so Fallon must turn up, or sit out two club games.

"They have to understand and respect our position, as we understand theirs," said Herbert.

"We haven't heard back ... one can only assume that they have understood."