Town defender Tommy Smith has been named in the New Zealand squad for internationals later this month and in June. The 22-year-old has previously won nine full caps for the nation where he lived between the ages of eight and 16.

The All Whites play friendlies against Honduras (May 23rd) and El Salvador (May 26th) in Texas before they travel to the Solomon Islands for the Oceania Nations Cup, the first stage of qualifying for the World Cup in 2014. The New Zealanders take on Fiji (June 2nd), Papua New Guinea (June 4th) and the hosts (June 6th).

Later in the summer, Smith is also expected to be in the New Zealand U23 squad — the Oly Whites - who play Belarus, Brazil and Egypt at the Olympics.

New Zealand: Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers), Glen Moss (Wellington Phoenix), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix), Michael Boxall (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (captain, Tottenham Hotspur), Winston Reid (West Ham), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Wellington Phoenix), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Cameron Howieson (Burnley), Dan Keat (Los Angeles Galaxy), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), Tim Payne (Blackburn Rovers), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory), Kosta Barbarouses (Alania Vladikavkaz), Rory Fallon (Aberdeen), Chris Killen (Chongqing), Shane Smeltz (Perth Glory), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion).

Photo: Action Images

walberswick added 00:54 - May 15 Trying on the Leeds strip.
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Garv added 01:20 - May 15 Clapham!
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TractorBeezer added 02:46 - May 15 Well done Tommy and good luck. Will be another great experience.
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weddings added 07:25 - May 15 No rest for him then
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fussysnake added 07:37 - May 15 good to see town players winning caps. But still, i never really understood how Tommy can play for NZ just because he lived there before?
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lawshallgirls added 07:48 - May 15 He's not a town player anymore is he?! Has he signed his contract
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Mark added 08:04 - May 15 Last I read we were going to offer him a contract, but I haven't heard if the offer has yet been made let alone accepted.
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bigolconnor added 09:00 - May 15 I think if you live in a country for eight years you can apply for residency, like Navratilova. Also Tommy only knows Ipswich he would never leave us. Just sayin'
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saffronblue added 09:04 - May 15 Tommy good luck, not sure why he has to play for the full team and then the Olympics - should be choice of one or the other in my opinion. He will need a Holiday at some point. Hopefully the contract situation gets sorted out quickly
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MintyHalfWit added 09:41 - May 15 Weak player, unfortunately. But the fans seem to have taken to him. Just like the rest of the side.
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walberswick added 10:02 - May 15 rubbish player, but shows what can be achieved with young fit eager piayer, played in their right position with the correct phydical attriibutes. ie over 6 ft.
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UsualSuspect added 10:05 - May 15 Won't do his all round football education any harm, prone to the occasional error but still learning half wit.
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hairbear added 10:55 - May 15 He does make the odd mistake but he's only 22 in 3/4 years he could be a club hero exactly the type of player we need to keep hold of. Playing international & Olympic football will do him no harm at all.
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Wickets added 11:02 - May 15 Yes been very quiet on his contract of late and we have been linked to another lefty defender!!!
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JewellintheTown added 13:43 - May 15 @Hearbear - with that avatar of yours, I'm tempted to report you for abuse to my eyes - not nice when you're eating your dinner (or lunch if you're from the south) :{
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Crock added 15:15 - May 15 Clapham for New Zealand!
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i_like_that_bolder added 16:24 - May 15 Poor defender, needs replacing in the summer.
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EatonBlue added 17:26 - May 15 'TOMMY SMITH - OLYMPIC PLAYERRRR'
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