Blues youngster Monty Patterson will hope to help New Zealand to lift the Oceania Nations Cup when they take on hosts Papua New Guinea in the final in Port Moresby on Saturday morning.
Midfielder or striker Patterson, who is yet to make a senior appearance for Town, has won his first four senior caps during the tournament, having made his All Whites debut from the start in their 3-1 victory over Fiji in their group opening game and then featuring from the bench in the subsequent wins against Vanuatu, 5-0, the Solomon Islands, 1-0, and in the semi-finals New Caledonia, also 1-0.
The 19-year-old returned to action for Town’s U21s in the closing weeks of 2015/16 having spent seven months out with a serious ankle injury.
In addition to claiming the Oceania Nations Cup, victory on Saturday will secure New Zealand a lucrative place in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. The competition also serves as the Oceania Football Confederation's second round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The All Whites will be without skipper and former Town loanee Chris Wood for the match as he will be at his sister’s wedding. Another one-time Blues loan striker Rory Fallon is expected to wear the armband in his absence.