Central defender Tommy Smith expects to discover whether he’s in New Zealand’s World Cup squad next week. Smith has been included in the initial 30 with coach Ricki Herbert expected to name his final 23 in a week’s time.
The 20-year-old told the club site that he has his fingers crossed that he will be off to South Africa to add to his single cap: "Obviously I'm hoping to be included in the team for the World Cup and I think the manager is announcing the squad soon, possibly at the end of next week.
"It was an amazing occasion, making my debut for New Zealand against Mexico in front of 90,000 [in LA] in March, and hopefully I did enough in the game and in training to have impressed the manager.”
The All Whites face Australia, Serbia, Slovenia and Chile in friendlies with Smith seeing the former as the stand-out fixture in that list: "If I'm involved against Australia, that's going to be a fantastic atmosphere as well with 100,000 at Melbourne for the game.
"Then the team is going to Austria for high altitude training in preparation for the World Cup, but the most important thing for me at the moment is being in the final squad."
The New Zealanders face Slovakia, Paraguay and Italy in their group games in South Africa.
Smith switched to represent New Zealand, the country where he lived from the age of eight to 16, earlier this year having represented England at U17 level.
Meanwhile, exiting coach Steve Foley, says he is keen to get another job in football as soon as possible and has already been linked with former club Colchester: "I have a couple of irons in the fire and I’m looking to stay in football.
"It’s sad to have left Ipswich, but like a boxer who has hit the floor you have got to get up on your feet again.”
Elsewhere, Jack Colback could be involved with Sunderland’s first team as soon as this weekend with the Black Cats short of midfielders due to injuries.
Colback returned from his loan with the Blues earlier this week and has been included in Sunderland's squad for Sunday's game against Wolves.