Hay mixes youth with experience

A new era is set to begin for the All Whites with new head coach Danny Hay selecting a host of promising young players in his first squad, as well as welcoming back several more established names.

Winston Reid, Chris Wood and Ryan Thomas have been included in an All Whites squad for the first time since the end of 2017, while seven players are yet to be capped at senior level: James McGarry, Joe Bell, Nando Pijnaker, Elliot Collier, Elijah Just, Max Mata and Callum McCowatt.

Hay will lead his group of 24 players in matches in Ireland and Lithuania this month and is enthused by the talent at his disposal.

“It’s exciting in that I had to make some really tough decisions and leave out players operating at a high level, which is a good sign for the future,” he said. “We’re developing a different type of player now — one who is more technical and tactically aware — so that is exciting and the squad is reflective of that.”

Several of the newcomers shone during New Zealand’s impressive campaign at this year’s Fifa Under-20 World Cup and Hay was delighted to combine their youthful exuberance with proven quality.

“The under-20s did very well under Des [Buckingham] at the World Cup and I’ve spoken at length with him about the make-up of this squad. He gave some good opinions about the players he felt did particularly well in that World Cup campaign, as well as the Under-23 Olympic qualifiers,” Hay said. “We have to look to 2022 and beyond, so if we can put those players alongside some of the more experienced ones, then it’s going to look very bright.”

While a big emphasis is being placed on youth, Hay said those who have long been involved in the national team set-up have a crucial role to play, particularly the likes of Wood and Reid.

“One of the most important things is getting those senior players on board and making sure they’re really clear with the direction we’re heading and are 100 per cent invested in it.

“They’re going to be vital for setting the tone and influencing how the younger players come into the environment and what that environment looks like.

“Winston has been out for a very long time, so it’s great to have him involved. We all know that he’s on his way back from injury so we just need to be very careful with how we work with him and how much game time he has. But the sheer fact he’s there and the mana he holds amongst the group is going to be vital.”