Soccer: Places in All Whites starting lineup still up for grabs

Chris Wood and Michael McGlinchey are in line for more game time when the All Whites square off with Bahrain in their winner-take-all World Cup play-off in Wellington next month.

After naming an unchanged 18-player squad for the match at Westpac Stadium on November 14, coach Ricki Herbert said the starting XI was not "locked and loaded" and hinted that youngsters Wood and McGlinchey may yet figure in his starting line-up.

Herbert also suggested that if it is decided to revert to a more customary 4-4-2 formation - after playing with just three defenders and Leo Bertos and Tony Lochhead in unfamiliar wing-back roles in the tie opener in Bahrain - Waitakere United right back Aaron Scott could be in line for a recall.

While there was no surprise in Herbert staying with the players he took to Manama, he did admit he will "chat through that one [the likely formation]" with assistant coach Brian Turner and technical adviser Raul Blanco over the next week or so.

Asked how difficult it was to stay with the same players he had used in the 0-0 draw, Herbert said given the fact that these players had been together for the team's most recent games there was no real need for change.

"If we had gone with 4-4-2 up there they probably would have beaten us," said Herbert yesterday. "Back home it is now more a case of tweaking things. There is the possibility we will go with just two, rather than three, up front with maybe Rory Fallon and Chris Killen together and Shane Smeltz free in behind them. That's the role which suits him better.

"Chris Wood is a good bet. He is playing regularly and is playing well. If we had to play him we would have no hesitation in doing it."

Herbert said most of the players will be free of their club commitments in time to catch flights which will have them in Wellington on the Monday before the game.

"I know, as an example, Ryan Nelsen is playing at home against Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon and will catch a flight that night. Fallon and Wood are in the same situation so they will fly out together. Only Chris Killen, who has a Sunday game for Celtic, will be delayed but he will be in Wellington by Tuesday."

Herbert said the team will train twice on Wednesday, by which time the starting XI will be obvious.

"We never have a lot of time with the players so after having a look for a day or so we will be in a position to name the team to the players and by Thursday I will have no hesitation in naming the XI."

Herbert has named former squad members Jeremy Christie, Steven Old, Jeremy Brockie, Kris Bright and goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley on a standby list.

WORLD CUP SQUAD

Goalkeepers
* James Bannatyne (Team Wellington) 5 caps/0 goals
* Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix) 22/0

Defenders
* Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls) 14/0
* Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix) 20/0
* David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix) 30/3
* Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers) capt 40/9
* Aaron Scott (Waitakere United) 5/0
* Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix) 11/1
* Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City) 71/7

Midfielders
* Andy Barron (Team Wellington) 12/1
* Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix) 29/0
* Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix) 26/0
* Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes) 66/8
* Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners) 2/0

Forwards
* Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle) 2/1
* Chris Killen (Celtic) 25/17
* Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United) 30/17
* Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion) 4/0