New Zealand head coach Ricki Herbert has offered Town central defender Tommy Smith the chance to play for his side at next summer's World Cup. Smith, who has been capped by England at U17 level, is entitled to a New Zealand passport having lived there between the ages of eight and 16.

Herbert emailed Smith this week to offer him a place in his 23-man All Whites squad for the World Cup in South Africa and is now waiting to hear the 19-year-old’s response: "Tommy would be a great addition to the squad.

"To be able to bring in someone playing at Championship level in England, where we've also got Chris Wood and Rory Fallon, is a real bonus. It would also be a big boost because we don't have many left-sided players to choose from.

"There are processes and Tommy would have to initiate some things from his side if he agrees to join us. I haven't heard back from him yet but I'm hopeful."

Asked whether there was a chance of him making the switch earlier in the season, Smith said he was concentrating on domestic football first and foremost: “I have not thought about the international side of my game. All my thoughts are on playing for Ipswich and establishing myself in the first team squad.”

New Zealand previously tried to recruit Macclesfield-born Smith in January 2007 for their U17 squad, but soon afterwards he was called up by England with whom he played at the FIFA U17 World Cup later that year.

Recent changes to FIFA rules allow players who have appeared at levels up to U21 to change their international allegiance if they qualify for another country.

New Zealand will face Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in World Cup Group F in South Africa.

Photo: Action Images

Dale added 16:09 - Dec 11 He really should do it. I doubt he will get the chance to play for England.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 16:15 - Dec 11 What a tough un for him to have to decide on, If he honestly believes he's good enough to feature for England at some point, the turn NZ down & wait, but if at the age of 19 he's not holding down a regular first team squad place at Championship level it might be worth considering to further his career. As I say a tough un!!
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newburyblue added 16:16 - Dec 11 Totally agree. He'll never play for England so he should jump at the chance.
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Mungo added 16:17 - Dec 11 This may be Tommy's only opportunity to play in a World Cup finals. No one can tell what the future will bring and passing on opportunities such as this may be something Tommy wuld come to regret in the future. That said, New Zealand aren't a great international team and playing for them would involve an obscene amount of air travel throughout a normal season.
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nodge_blue added 16:39 - Dec 11 Not good for Town if he does as he'll have to keep flying half way round the world for future qualifying events.
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KeanePlusTriggs added 16:54 - Dec 11 good for us kiwis tho ! him and nelson at the back could be a good centre half partnership !
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JayITFC added 17:02 - Dec 11 He should do it. Once in a lifetime opportunity. We all would.
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FenboyBlue added 17:11 - Dec 11 Wow. It's not often you see the invite to the World Cup handed to you on a plate at such a young age, is it ? Doesn't clash with Ipswich's season, so might as well go for it. It might be his only chance. And then if he cements his NZ place for an illustrious career I guess we'll have to pick up the international travelling absences up afterwards. Although he's promising for us, he's not in the back 4 now. There must be many about his age higher up the pecking order for the future England defence though, for him not to hang on for a future potential England cap versus Andorra.

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Liverpool_blu added 17:28 - Dec 11 He should snap there offer up. Only ever gonna play for england if the likesof Man U or Liverpool Buy him. Which is unlikely.
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Blueknight85 added 18:20 - Dec 11 it would be rediculously silly to accept such an offer at his age unless he really really wants to play for new zealand and his heart is there. he will still only be 22 the one after that and have a better idea of where his career is going. as soon as he plays for a senior team he cant go back.
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KIWI78 added 19:21 - Dec 11 Double bonus for me if he does. An ipswich Player, playing for New Zealand in the world cup. C'mon (albeit and english) summer!
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 20:45 - Dec 11 Go for it Tommy!!
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el_nino added 21:03 - Dec 11 He's not good enough for England, so he should do it. He'll never have a chance like this again to play in a world cup finals..........the likes of Best, Giggs and Weah never made it and were all gutted.
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Blueknight85 added 21:54 - Dec 11 he is 17.....how do you know he will never be god enough to play for england!!!! lol and are you saying new zealand are guarenteed to not quallify for the next 3 world cups? coz by my count thats another 3 chances if they do and they arent that bad anybody with a bit of common sense would not commit to new zealand at 17 by the next world cup finals he will be 21/22 still very young and able to make a better choice with 3 chances of world cup finals to play for in his carrer realisticly with who ever he choses

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elburro3 added 22:13 - Dec 11 To be honest, I can't believe New Zealand want him. Hes not good enough for that stage by a long shot, and if New Zealand want him then nor are they...
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bjc added 01:37 - Dec 12 good new zealand will qualify a lot more than endland now australia s out of the oceania group. couldnt they take keano as well?
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stainless added 07:37 - Dec 12 He's 19, not 17 as mentioned earlier. He has to take the offer, he would be stupid not to, he will never get another chance
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corshamblue added 09:53 - Dec 12 Rock on Tommy!
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el_nino added 14:47 - Dec 12 Er, Blueknight85, he is 19. It's pretty clear that unless he seriously improves, he will not be good enough for England. He can't even get into a mediocre championship team at the moment. As far as the Kiwis go, they have not qualified for a world cup since 1982, so chances are, they may not make another one for a while. So for those reasons, he would be wise to accept their offer.

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