New Zealand head coach Ricki Herbert has revealed that Town defender Tommy Smith has emailed him to accept the offer of a place in his squad for next summer’s World Cup. Smith, who has previously represented England at U17 level, qualifies for New Zealand having lived there between the ages of eight and 16.
Herbert says Smith replied to his recent email saying that he’d be delighted to join the 23-man New Zealand party in South Africa: "Tommy was very excited about the prospect - he is a young man with a big future. I've asked New Zealand Football to start doing the paperwork.
"It's wonderful news for us. I hope there are no obstacles and I think the process should be pretty straightforward as it was for Rory Fallon and Michael McGlinchey."
New Zealand are hopeful that 19-year-old Smith will be able to take part in some of their warm-up matches prior to the tournament, although given the travelling these may clash to some extent with Town’s domestic programme.
Smith is likely to make his New Zealand debut in their friendly against Mexico in Los Angeles on March 3rd.
Recent changes to FIFA rules allow players who have appeared at levels up to U21 to change their international allegiance if they qualify for another country. Recent loan keeper Asmir Begovic switched from Canada to Bosnia earlier in the year.
New Zealand previously tried to recruit Macclesfield-born Smith in January 2007 for their U17 squad, but soon afterwards he was called up by England with whom he played at the FIFA U17 World Cup.
New Zealand will face Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in World Cup Group F in South Africa.