Tommy Smith and New Zealand drew 0-0 with MLS side Chivas USA in a training game in Carson, California yesterday. The Blues centre-half came off with what his coach Ricki Herbert says was a minor niggle.
Herbert employed Smith as part of his usual back three prior to his withdrawal: "We managed to get Tommy, Winston [Reid] and Andrew [Durante] out there together for most of the game, although Tommy came off with a bit of knock, but nothing too serious.''
The All Whites, who also drew 1-1 in a game against USL Premier Development League side Ventura County Fusion on Thursday, have been at a training camp in Los Angeles this week but fly out to Port of Spain tomorrow ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.
The training camp and games are preparation for November’s play-offs for a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil against the side which finishes fourth in the CONCACAF qualification group.
Those opponents look likely to be Mexico, who beat Panama 2-1 in a crucial qualifier in Mexico City in the early hours of Saturday morning.