Hay patient on Reid decision
Defender keen to play at Olympics but a possible loan move could ruin his chances
Winston Reid’s availability for the Tokyo Olympics should be confirmed within the next 48 hours.
Oly Whites coach Danny Hay hopes to know by tomorrow whether the West Ham defender will be joining the squad.
The long-time All Whites captain was provisionally named on Friday, bracketed alongside Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne.
It’s not the ideal situation, but Hay is prepared to be pragmatic, aware of the value Reid will offer on and off the pitch.
After a horror run with injuries, the 32-year-old returned last season via a loan spell with MLS club Kansas City, before helping Brentford achieve a historic promotion to the English Premier League.
He is contracted to the Hammers until June 2023, but it’s likely the London club will seek a suitor for Reid, on loan or permanently.
“It’s a tricky one,” Hay told the Herald on Sunday. “He’s in a big-time environment, working through things with his club. It’s not an official Fifa window, so they don’t need to release him. But he is doing everything he can — he is desperate to be part of this.”
Hay remains “very hopeful”, but also expressed confidence in Payne, after an “outstanding season” in the Phoenix defence.
Uncertainty over his club future has quashed Sarpreet Singh’s Olympic dream.
He starred for the Junior All Whites at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup, which prompted his surprise move to Bayern Munich.
After a promising first season, his second campaign in Germany has been more difficult, with Bayern’s second team relegated to the fourth tier of German football.
“It’s regional football, so the level is not great,” said Hay. “It’s not good for his development and he knows he can’t play in that if he wants to have a future at Bayern.
“He knows he needs to go out on loan. [But] if we were to take him to the Olympics, no club would sign a player up on loan; they want him there for the pre-season, to bed himself into the team.”
Chris Wood, the team’s highestprofile player, is set for his second Olympic campaign, off the back of a fourth successful Premier League season with Burnley.
His release wasn’t completely straightforward, given his value to the Clarets.
“A lot of it was driven by Woodsy himself, which says a lot about his character, mentality and desire to play for his country,” said Hay. “[Manager] Sean Dyche was supportive but it ultimately came down to Chris really wanting to come. While Burnley probably didn’t want to release him, he was insistent, that this was an important thing for him.”
Hay described the final selection process on Thursday as one of the hardest things he had done.
“There were some tough conversations,” said Hay, “having to leave out some really good players.”
It’s an impressive squad, with all 18 players based at professional clubs. In 2012, seven players were picked from New Zealand domestic football, while the Oly Whites at the 2008 Beijing Games had only three fulltime professionals.
Brisbane Roar forward Joey Champness was the most intriguing selection. Auckland-born Champness has previously represented Australia at youth level but switched allegiance this month.
“As soon as I spoke to him about the potential of playing for the country where he was born, he almost bit my hand off,” said Hay. “I’ve been watching him for some time now.
“He’s an X-factor player and offers something a bit different. He’s a dribbler, which we don’t really have, and asks questions of defenders.”