Town defender Tommy Smith is back in the New Zealand fold only two months after deciding to take a year off international football. The 24-year-old has been named in the All Whites squad for November friendlies away against China and Thailand.
Smith, who has previously won 27 caps, scoring two goals, opted to take the break to concentrate on the Blues’ promotion push, but has latterly found himself out of the starting line-up with Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra Mick McCarthy’s preferred central defensive duo.
New All Whites manager Anthony Hudson met with his European based players last month when he spoke to Smith.
"Talking to Tommy it was obvious he had a great desire to be part of the All Whites squad and his vision for the team matches our own heading towards [the World Cup in] Russia [in 2018],” he said.
"It's great that he will be back involved as we begin to chart our path forwards over the next year.”
New Zealand face China in Nanchang on Friday 14th November and Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday 19th November during a designated international break.
All Whites: Jacob Gleeson (Portland Timbers), Oliver Sail (Wellington Phoenix), Michael Boxall (Wellington Phoenix), Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix), Jesse Edge (Vicenza), Louis Fenton (Wellington Phoenix), James Musa (Team Wellington), Winston Reid (West Ham United), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Cameron Howieson (Burnley), Dan Keat (Falkenbergs FF), Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Payne (Auckland City), Bill Tuiloma (Olympique Marseille), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory), Tyler Boyd (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Wellington Phoenix), Marco Rojas (SpVgg Greuther Furth), Joel Stevens (Wellington Phoenix), Chris Wood (Leicester City).