Soccer: UK-based All Whites skip game

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The All Whites will be without their three top English-based soccer players when they take on South Africa in Auckland later this month.

West Ham's Winston Reid, Ispwich Town's Tommy Smith and Leicester City striker Chris Wood have elected not to return for the match, which falls outside governing body Fifa's international window.

While All Whites fans may be frustrated by the absence of senior pros, they will be excited by the prospect of a home debut for rising star Ryan Thomas and the return of Marco Rojas.

Fresh from his match-winning double in the Dutch Cup final against Ajax, Thomas is part of a full strength midfield that welcomes back Stuttgart's Rojas, who had to withdraw from last month's international in Japan through injury.

Two uncapped players also make the cut with New Zealand Under-20 midfielder Matt Ridenton earning his first call up and former Junior All Whites captain Luke Adams handed a chance to step up to senior level.

Adams, who is also eligible for the next Olympic cycle, is a direct replacement for Ben Sigmund, who is carrying a niggling injury from the latter stages of the A-League season.

After captaining New Zealand in last year's World Cup qualifier against Mexico, Smith skipped the 4-2 loss to Japan in March to focus on his club career. Wood has played 4050 minutes of football over 45 games this season for Leicester and last week he told twtd.co.uk that "the body has had a long season and needs a rest".

"The people in New Zealand are happy with that," he said.