KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United midfielder Jeff Campbell has been recalled to the All Whites after five years in soccer's international wilderness.
The 27-year-old was the surprise in Ricki Herbert's 19-man squad named today to face Wales and Ukraine in Wrexham and Kiev on May 27 and June 7 (NZT) respectively.
Campbell is one of five players recalled to the national squad for the World Cup warm-up tour, joining Hibernian striker Chris Killen, Columbus Crew defender Duncan Oughton, Toronto FC centrehalf Andy Boyens and Auckland City fullback James Pritchett.
They replace recently retired utility Noah Hickey and the unavailable trio of Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott and captain Danny Hay, who is to remain in New Zealand for the birth of his first child.
Herbert was unlikely to announce Hay's replacement as captain until the All Whites' first team meeting in Europe.
He intended adding a 20th player before the side's departure on May 22.
Campbell -- who made the last of his 16 international appearances against Vanuatu in July 2002 -- has been handed an 11th hour chance to force his way into Herbert's World Cup calculations.
"This is a great way to round off the season we've had at Waitakere," he said.
Campbell played an integral role in the West Auckland club's march to the NZFC minor premiership and O-League glory.
"Ricki had named me in his extended World Cup squad so I always thought it was a possibility.
"I think I'm a better player now just for the experience I've had and was only 23 the last time I played for the All Whites, but I don't think you peak until your late 20s."
Herbert had planned to name his World Cup squad prior to the mid-year tour of Europe but a continued inability to select New Zealand's leading off-shore players has forced a delay.
"Jeff's been quite industrious in the NZFC and could provide us with some nice balance in the midfield given that he's naturally left-sided," Herbert said.
"We'll never know without taking him."
Killen's recall was also unexpected but timely, given the absence of so many senior All Whites.
The striker, who has not played since suffering an Achilles tendon injury in January, will be eased back into the All Whites set-up after last playing in the 4-0 loss to Brazil last June.
Oughton last played for the All Whites at the ill-fated 2004 Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide.
The Green Card-holding Wellingtonian, who has played 102 Major League Soccer matches for Columbus, also returns after a lengthy injury enforced spell on the sidelines.
Pritchett, capped five times since his debut against Malaysia last year, is recalled after being overlooked for the 4-0 and 5-0 losses in Costa Rica and Venezuela respectively in March.
Boyens, whose only start for the All Whites came as an 86th-minute substitute against Uefa Cup holders FC Sevilla last year, gets his chance at the expense Coventry City signing Che Bunce.
Herbert said injuries and unavailable players had made settling on a team difficult in recent games, but that was in the past.
"The enormity of the games this year doesn't get any less but what it does do is pitch your Duncan Oughtons and Andy Boyens against quality opposition which will help us make objective decisions at the end of the tour."
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Paston, Glen Moss (both Wellington Phoenix).
Defenders: Andrew Boyens (Toronto FC), Tony Lochhead (Unattached), Steven Old (Wellington Phoenix), Duncan Oughton (Columbus Crew), James Pritchett (Auckland City).
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Canterbury United), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeff Campbell (Waitakere United), Jeremy Christie (Unattached), David Mulligan (Scunthorpe United), Ivan Vicelich (RKC Waalwijk).
Forwards: Leo Bertos (Perth Glory), Jeremy Brockie (Unattached), Chris James (Fulham FC), Chris Killen (Hibernian), Shane Smeltz (Halifax FC), Jarrod Smith (Unattached).
Coaches: Ricki Herbert (Coach/Auckland), Brian Turner (Assistant coach/Auckland).
Itinerary:
May 27 v Wales, The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, (2am NZT)
June 7 v Ukraine, Stadion NSK Olimpiyskiy, Kiev (4am NZT).
- NZPA
