Smith in New Zealand Squad and Set for Olympics - Ipswich Town News

Town defender Tommy Smith has been named in a provisional New Zealand squad for games against China and Japan later this month. All Whites boss Ricki Herbert has also revealed that he expects Smith to be involved in New Zealand's Olympic side at London 2012.

Herbert's men face China in Wuhan on March 25th and then Asian Champions Japan in Tokyo on March 29th.

The All Whites coach has picked a young squad for the two games partly with Olympic qualification in mind with the London 2012 football tournament being played at U23 level.

"The Olympics are a prestigious event and it's important that we qualify for it and do well. It also has flow on benefits for our Brazil 2014 [World Cup] campaign," Herbert said.

"We'll have the likes of Tommy Smith, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses and three over-age players all eligible for London, and there'll be some players pushing for inclusion in the All Whites as we get further down the World Cup cycle.

"It makes sense to have greater crossover between the two environments in terms of players and staff."

Town could also have striker Connor Wickham in action for an England side representing Great Britain at the Olympics.

New Zealand: Glen Moss (Gold Coast United), Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix), Andrew Boyens (Chivas), Michael Boxall (Vancouver Whitecaps), Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (West Ham), Luke Rowe (Birmingham City), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jeta), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (Chivas), Craig Henderson (Mjallby), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), Cole Peverley (Charleston Battery), David Mulligan (Auckland City), Marco Rojas (Wellington Phoenix), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Kosta Barbarouses (Brisbane Roar), Kris Bright (Budapest Honvéd), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Shenzhen Ruby), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion).

What to read next:

McKenna: Davis Limping Pretty Heavily
Town boss Kieran McKenna says left-back Leif Davis was limping heavily following tonight’s 3-3 draw at Hull City.

McKenna: What a Wonderful Position to Be In
Town boss Kieran McKenna reflected on the wonderful position his side is in following tonight’s 3-3 draw at Hull City.

Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Town moved level on points with second-placed Leeds United following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium having been in front three times. Returning striker George Hirst put the Blues in front in the 19th minute but the Tigers levelled on 40 through Ozan Tufan before Omari Hutchinson put Town back ahead with the first of two brilliant goals. However, Hull equalised again through Liam Delap in the 56th minute, then Hutchinson’s second put the Blues ahead again, however, Tigers sub Noah Ohio grabbed a point for the East Yorkshire side with three minutes remaining and the Blues were unable to take late chances to win it.

Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.

Hull City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Goals from George Hirst and Omari Hutchinson have given Town a 2-1 half-time lead over Hull City at the MKM Stadium.

Hirst and Burns Start at Hull
George Hirst and Wes Burns both start for the Blues in this evening’s live-on-Sky game at Hull City.

Hull City v Ipswich Town - Chatroom Open
Join us in the chatroom to discuss the game as it unfolds with hundreds of other Town fans.

Hull City v Ipswich Town - Predictions
Have you predicted the Hull score yet? Sixty per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 27 per cent a draw and 13 per cent predicting a home win, but what do you think?

Leeds Thrashed at QPR
The battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.

Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish Role
Town’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.