Blues youngster Monty Patterson could win his first full cap when New Zealand take on Fiji in their opening game at the Oceania Nations Cup in Papua New Guinea on Saturday morning.
Patterson, 19, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the Blues, returned to action for Town’s U21s in the closing weeks of the season having spent seven months out with a serious ankle injury.
Last week, the midfielder or striker, who has previously been capped at U17, U20 and U23 levels, scored as the All Whites beat Australian side Western Pride 2-0 in a warm-up game in Ipswich, Queensland.
Following tomorrow’s match, New Zealand face Vanuatu on Tuesday before completing their group matches against the Solomon Islands on Saturday 4th June with all their games in Port Moresby.
The tournament doubles up as the second round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, while the winner will represent the Oceania Football Confederation at the 2017 Confederations Cup, which like the World Cup will be in Russia.
Also in the squad are former Town loanees Chris Wood, who captains in the absence of West Ham’s Winston Reid, and Rory Fallon.
Blues centre-half Tommy Smith was left out of the squad with coach Anthony Hudson citing the 26-year-old’s lack of commitment to the All Whites and indicating that he won’t come under consideration for future internationals.
All Whites: Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes), Matthew Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix), Themistoklis Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina), Michael Boxall (SuperSport Utd), Bill Tuiloma (RC Strasbourg Alsace), Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory), Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix), Chris Wood (Leeds Utd), Luka Prelevic (Pascoe Vale), Marco Rojas (FC Thun), Max Crocombe (Oxford Utd), Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town), Rory Fallon (Bristol Rovers), Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport Utd), Louis Fenton (Wellington Phoenix), Luke Adams (South Melbourne), Sam Brotherton (Wisconsin University), Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix), Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi (Onehunga Sports), Logan Rogerson (Wellington Phoenix), Moses Dyer (Onehunga Sports), Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk).