‘Home’ debut possible for nomadic All White striker

HE’S a journeyman striker with experience in various Asian leagues, but Kayne Vincent could make his All Whites debut on ‘‘home’’ soil in Thailand tomorrow.

The 26-year-old with dual New Zealand and Japanese heritage has been signed for Thai Premier League champions Buriram United after earlier stints in Japan, India and Australia.

Vincent, who scored 13 goals in 33 games for Thai club Songkhla United last season, was called in to the All Whites squad for the games against China and Thailand. He is an outside bet to make his bow against Thailand – nicknamed the War Elephants – in Bangkok.

Former All Whites caretaker coach Neil Emblen, who coached Vincent at Auckland club Waitakere United, said the muchtravelled striker could not wish for a better opportunity than playing for New Zealand against Thailand.

‘‘I keep in touch with Kayne, he’s a good lad,’’ said Emblen, who coached the All Whites in two matches in 2014 between Ricki Herbert’s resignation as head coach and Englishman Anthony Hudson’s appointment.

‘‘Kayne’s a very athletic, strong boy, who’s good off both feet.’’

Vincent, a former New Zealand under-20 international, appeared in the 2008 Fifa Club World Cup finals tournament for Waitakere. But he struggled for game time at the West Auckland club, with Fijian international Roy Krishna and Solomon Islander Benji Totori on Waitakere’s books.

But Emblen admires Vincent for ‘‘going off and chasing his dream’’.

‘‘He’s played in a few different countries and has been paid as a professional player for the last few years.

‘‘He’s scored some good goals and has signed for a big club in Thailand next year. Kayne has shown every player that’s out there that if they can become a professional, they are in with a chance [of making the All Whites].’’

Emblen said the 1.84m Vincent had a ‘‘a totally different style’’ to most of the New Zealand strikers. He was ‘‘probably more like Woodsy [captain and centre forward Chris Wood] than the sharper boys’’, Ryan Thomas, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas, Tyler Boyd and Joel Stevens.

‘‘Kayne could play the wide role too because he can work back, and he’s quite quick. But he’s more the physical specimen, like Woodsy, but not as tall.’’

Emblen, a former English Premier League defender, was Hudson’s stand-in assistant coach for the 3-1 loss to Uzbekistan in September, but has since been replaced by Hudson’s longtime colleague Alan Armstrong.

He remains positive about the All Whites’ prospects under Hudson, saying: ‘‘I thought the boys were great the other night [in the 1-1 draw with China].

‘‘China weren’t as good as Uzbekistan ... but the boys seemed up for it, they had the bit between their teeth.’’

Emblen liked the intensity with which the All Whites pressed the Chinese higher up the pitch and felt they were unlucky not to win away from home.

He was particularly impressed with 18-year-old left back Deklan Wynne, who supplied the cross for Wood to head home a late equaliser.

‘‘Deklan playing his first.’’

Emblen said there was ‘‘probably more pressure’’ on the All Whites to beat Thailand, ranked 165th in the world, after their draw with China, ranked 88th. looked like he was 100th game, not his