Soccer: Brown wants to make a difference

All Whites vice-captain Tim Brown say his shoulder is still not 100 per cent. Photo / NZPA

All Whites vice-captain Tim Brown is to rejoin his teammates in South Africa unsure what sort of contribution he can make at the soccer World Cup.

Brown left Auckland this morning after being cleared by his surgeon following an operation to repair a shoulder injury suffered against Australia on May 24.

He missed three World Cup warmup matches and the Wellington midfielder remains uncertain whether he will be right to play in New Zealand's opening match against Slovakia, next Wednesday at Rustenburg.

It could be that their next group match, against world champions Italy on June 21, is a more realistic option.

Brown said he would do all he could to ensure he had an active role to play as New Zealand make their first appearance at the World Cup since 1982.

"The shoulder is not 100 per cent," Brown said today.

It was originally estimated he could be sidelined for as long as six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture and having three screws inserted in the bone.

"They said I'd be really pushing it for six weeks and here we are two weeks after the surgery and it's feeling really good.

"Hopefully I can hit the training paddock straight away when I get there (South Africa) and push for some sort of involvement at some point."

Brown told Radio Sport immediately before his departure today that he was not rejoining the All Whites simply to make up the numbers.

"I want to play. I don't want to just sit around and watch the games.

"I want to make a difference over there. Hopefully I will be involved, sooner rather than later."

A team spokesman said Wellington midfielder Cole Peverley, who was called up to the squad as replacement cover for Brown, would stay on in South Africa.

- NZPA