Town pair Tommy Smith and Monty Patterson have been named in the New Zealand squad for their home and away World Cup qualifiers against Fiji later this month.

The All Whites face the Fijians in Laukota on Saturday 25th March, then in Wellington on the following Tuesday.

New Zealand currently top their qualification group and look set to progress to the next stage where they will meet the winners of the other Oceania qualification group in a two-legged play-off.

The side which wins that will face the team which finishes fifth in the South American qualification group in an inter-confederation play-off for a place at the finals in Russia in the summer of 2018.

The call-up is Smith’s first since returning to the All Whites fold following clear the air talks with head coach Anthony Hudson after he was previously left out of the squad for last summer’s Oceania Nations Cup.

Ahead of that tournament, which New Zealand won, Hudson had said he wouldn’t pick Smith again citing his lack of commitment to international football.

The 26-year-old, who made his first Town start since undergoing back surgery in September during Tuesday’s home game against Wolves, has previously won 29 caps and has scored two international goals.

Striker or midfielder Patterson, 20, who is on loan at Braintree Town in the Vanarama National League, will be looking to add to his nine caps and one international goal.

The squad will meet-up for a training camp in Wellington on Sunday 19th March ahead of the games.

All Whites: Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching), Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk), Glen Moss (Wellington Phoenix), Andrew Durante (Phoenix), Tom Doyle (Phoenix), Michael Boxall (SuperSport Utd), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes), Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina), Deklan Wynne (Vancouver Whitecaps), Winston Reid (West Ham United), Sam Brotherton (Sunderland), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Dane Ingham (Brisbane Roar), Bill Tuiloma (Marseille), Clayton Lewis (Auckland City), Michael McGlinchey (Phoenix), Moses Dyer (Eastern Suburbs), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Chris Wood (Leeds Utd), Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory), Shane Smeltz (Phoenix), Jai Ingham (Melbourne Victory).

Photo: TWTD

OohOohSamassiAbou added 10:47 - Mar 9 Does this mean Smith won't be able to play in the Cardiff game on the 18th? Or will he be allowed to turn up late?
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Cookycrew added 10:48 - Mar 9 Good Luck Tommy & Monty
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PhilTWTD added 11:13 - Mar 9 OohOohSamassiAbou No, don't think there'll be any problem for Cardiff.
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Radlett_blue added 11:21 - Mar 9 I wish Tommy would quit international football. Sure, it benefitted his career as a young player, notably when playing in the 2010 World Cup, but travelling around the world to play qualifiers & friendly games against poor opposition makes no sense, especially for someone who has had major back surgery. He only qualifies for New Zealand through residence as a boy anyway.

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