Injury toll heightens for All Whites
Marco Rojas and Shane Smeltz are the latest All Whites to be scratched for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands as the mounting injury toll continues to hamper the team’s preparations.
Anthony Hudson’s team, who lost the services of captain Winston Reid and fellow centre-back Tommy Smith in the buildup, have now lost key attacking midfielder Rojas to a quad strain and veteran striker Smeltz to a right calf tear.
Sam Brotherton and Alex Rufer have been called into the squad as replacements for Reid and Smeltz, with no replacement sought for Rojas.
‘‘Of course we were disappointed when we lose players to injury, but this presents a great opportunity for others to step up and be a part of our plans going forward for the rest of the year,’’ Hudson said.
Brotherton is a 20-year-old centreback who plays for the Sunderland U-23 development team. He has played seven internationals for New Zealand since making his debut in 2015, while Rufer, the son of former All Whites midfielder Shane Rufer, has played three internationals since making his debut in the same year.
‘‘Sam has been a part of our squad for a long time now, he knows what I want, what we need and if and when he’s called upon I know he’ll step up as he always has. He’s been involved in big games with us before, pressured games and I trust him fully.
‘‘I have said for a while now that I believe Alex Rufer is one of the best young players in New Zealand and it is an opportunity for him to show his ability in two very big games.’’
And although the injuries will be welcome news for the Solomon Islands, Hudson put the situation into perspective by explaining how every member of the All Whites squad is a fulltime professional.
‘‘I said right from the start we have needed depth in all positions to compete with the best teams in the world and to have a fully professional squad bodes well for this All Whites squad and our ability to compete on the world stage,’’ Hudson said.
The winner of the home-andaway tie advances to an intercontinental playoff in November against the fifth-best South American team, which is currently Argentina.