Chris Wood to captain New Zealand for Confed Cup warm-ups

England-based striker Chris Wood will captain New Zealand during its build-up to next month’s Confederations Cup.

Wood, who won the golden boot with 24 goals for Leeds in England’s second-tier League Championship this season, takes over from West Ham defender Winston Read, who is unavailable with a knee injury.

New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson on Friday named a 23man squad for matches against Northern Ireland, Dublin club side Carbinteely FC and Belarus ahead of New Zealand’s first Confederations Cup match against Russia on June 17 in St. Petersburg.

Hudson said Wood deserved his promotion to the captaincy and would “lead the team as he always does, with pride and strong performances.”

New Zealand’s final Confederations Cup squad will be named after the match against Belarus but Hudson said he did not expect many changes.

Hudson has encouraged the New Zealand players to reject the underdog tag regularly applied to them in major international competitions.