Rufer misses All Whites squad
Six players from the high-flying Wellington Phoenix have been included in the All Whites squad to play Egypt and either Croatia or Tunisia in the Winsunited Cup in the UAE later this month.
Versatile defender Lukas Kelly-Heald has been called up for the first time, while there are returns for attacking midfielder Ben Old and forward Kosta Barbarouses, who have both been in fine form this season.
Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and defenders Tim Payne and Finn Surman retain their places from November’s squad, but there is no room for midfielder Alex Rufer – the Phoenix captain.
The incumbent starting midfield trio of Joe Bell, Matt Garbett and Marko Stamenic have all been retained, with Old, Clayton Lewis, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just and Callum McCowatt the others who can play there.
Coach Darren Bazeley said while he had been encouraged by Rufer’s form for the Phoenix, who sit second on the A-League Men ladder with six regular season games to play, midfield was a crowded area when it came to selection.
“Rufes is doing really well. I’ve been very impressed with his form this year. I think he’s moved forward with his performances – he’s very attack-minded now and he’s very forward thinking, as well as breaking play down and doing ball rotation.
“The hard thing for him is the quality of player that he’s competing against to be selected – Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, I suppose Clayton [Lewis] comes into that as well, and Matt Garbett a little bit.
“I had a good conversation with Rufes and explained the position and he knows the guys he’s competing against, but we also know and he knows that whenever he is needed, he’ll be ready to perform for us as well.”
Dane Ingham has been recalled as a second specialist right back behind Payne, but ahead of Niko Kirwan and Storm Roux, while Oli Sail returns alongside Max Crocombe and Paulsen in the goalkeeping ranks.
Michael Woud drops out after starting in goal against Greece in November, as do backup left back Dalton Wilkins and end-of-the-bench forwards Joey Champness and Alex Greive.
Bazeley said the March window “was slightly too early” for Marco Rojas, who has returned to action with Brisbane Roar after a long period out of the game”
Chris Wood will lead the side and should be fully available after playing 90 minutes for his English Premier League club Nottingham Forest this past weekend. Egypt, however, are set to be without their star forward Mo Salah, who has been left out of their squad at the request of his EPL club, Liverpool.