Unfit All White sent home by Hudson
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson has taken the extraordinary step of sending a player home from camp, just four days out from a crucial World Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands.
Teenage fullback Dane Ingham has returned to Brisbane, after fitness tests on Monday in Auckland revealed he hadn’t met the team’s standards.
He is the fifth player from the original selection of 21 who is now unavailable, joining the injured quartet of Winston Reid, Tommy Smith, Shane Smeltz and Marco Rojas.
Two other players - midfielders Bill Tuiloma and Clayton Lewis - weren’t selected in the first place, due to the same fitness concerns that have now accounted for Ingham.
‘‘It’s the same as the situation with the other two that we left out,’’ said Hudson.
‘‘He came in but he was unfit, his body fat was high, and we’ve given him a couple of fitness tests and he’s not where he needs to be.’’
Hudson said he had empathy for Ingham, but he didn’t have sympathy ‘‘because everyone’s responsible [for themselves]’’.
Yet at the same time, he spoke highly of the 18-year-old’s potential, just as he did with Lewis and Tuiloma.
‘‘Let’s also take into consideration that he’s just turned 18. he’s a young kid, he’s a very, very important player to us, he’s got a big future with us, he’s going to be a big player, and young kids, they make mistakes, especially when he’s only just become a professional player.
‘‘He’s been thrust in here, he’s played against Ronaldo and all these other [players]. That’s a lot to deal with as a young kid. Unfortunately he has to learn and he will learn.’’
Ingham joined the All Whites for the first time in March, after choosing to play for New Zealand over Australia, where he plays for the Brisbane Roar.
He only had a handful of senior appearances to his name when he was selected, yet has started three of the seven All Whites games since, including those against Mexico and Portugal at the Confederations Cup in June.
Hudson said his talk with Ingham had been a difficult conversation. ‘‘I know he was upset and it’s hard for him, but I’ve told him he’s a massive part of what we want to do, he’s going to be back in here in no time, I know he’ll respond the right way.’’
Hudson said it was an easy decision to make, and added that he was only now at a point where he was able to make calls like this, when due to a lack of depth, he hadn’t been able to previously.
‘‘This has been eating at me for three years. I’ve wanted to make these decisions two years ago, but we’ve never had the squad. Now we’ve got the squad.
‘‘Look, the thing with Dane, if this was against Oman two years ago, or China, and Dane turns up the way he does, I’m going to have to bite the bullet. I’m not happy with it, I’m going to have words, but what else can I do, we’ve got no one in that position.’’
The emphasis on fitness ahead of this camp came after the All Whites disappointed in June, losing two friendlies and all three of their games at the Confederations Cup, while looking way off the pace.
Hudson raised it as an issue in the aftermath of that tournament, and backed up his words when he didn’t select Lewis and Tuiloma earlier this month.
The All Whites play the Solomon Islands at QBE Stadium in Auckland on Friday night, in the first leg of a home-and-away tie, which continues next Tuesday in Honiara.
The winner of the tie advances to play the fifth-best South American team in November in an intercontinental playoff to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.