Defender Tommy Smith is making an early return from international duty with New Zealand, his final-minute goal in the 2-1 victory over New Caledonia having secured a World Cup play-off place for the All Whites.

Coach Ricki Herbert said after that game that he would rest some of his players for the now-meaningless away match against the Solomon Islands on Tuesday and Smith has confirmed that he is now on his way home.

“In Dubai waiting for my flight to London. Wishing the lads all the best in Honiara. Make it a clean sweep boys!” the 22-year-old tweeted.

New Zealand have won all five of their qualifiers so far to top the group and win the right to take on the side from the CONCACAF region who finish fourth in their qualifying process in home and away fixtures in November.

Smith’s early return from the southern hemisphere will please manager Mick McCarthy ahead of the Easter fixtures at home to Leeds and away at Millwall, particularly with on-loan Whites defender Patrick Kisnorbo unavailable against his parent club.

Photo: Action Images

itfcjoe added 10:21 - Mar 25 Really good news.
0

HarryfromBath added 10:27 - Mar 25 Yes, it is really good news! Fair play to New Zealand's FA for releasing Tommy early. With two games in three days, he should be okay for both. Leeds have a Jamaican midfielder Rodolph Austin, and a good number of their fans were saying that he comes back exhausted from international breaks, what with all of the travelling.
0

TractorBeezer added 13:19 - Mar 25 Very sensible...great news. Welcome back Tommy!
0

itfcjc added 13:31 - Mar 25 Gutted about Kisnorbo being out
0

bluelady added 14:07 - Mar 25 thats the kind of attitude and means the club will have a far better attitude when being asked about internationals in the future. its the way it should be tbh, its clearly an honour playing for your country but its the club that pay the salary! He has been pivotal this season so glad he will be back with fresh legs and raring to go. Have to say never have i been so wrong about a player, i really didnt think he woud turn things around in such a way and go from zero to hero in such a short time. Well done to the management but also to Tommy for believing in himself when others doubted him.

0

wkj added 14:10 - Mar 25 I was bricking it that some sort of injury in training scenario followed the headline however what a sensationally selfless decision from the NZ gaff! Welcome home Tommy; Player if the Season!
0

wkj added 14:11 - Mar 25 of
0

Garv added 15:02 - Mar 25 Who is this Kisnorbo fella?
0

brendanh added 15:44 - Mar 25 Hands down player of the year based on his performances since Nov. I think there's too much correlation between his dips in form and travelling 24,000 miles between games for it not to be a worry. If I were TS, for the sake of his club career bread and butter, I'd say to NZ: I'll play the major tournaments, European fixtures and playoffs, but as for games versus the likes of Tahiti and the Solomon Islands, you'll just have to try to beat these giants of world football without me. TS's a good enough player now to have a strong bargaining position.

0

Blue4Eva96 added 16:35 - Mar 25 You have praise MM's work with Tommy aswell, got full praise for him though, was never his biggest fan, but has made me eat my words, Chambers and Smith are forming a formidable partnership there COYB!
0

NSL added 17:16 - Mar 25 Haha, bet he's well glad to be heading back to dreary old Ipswich to freeze his nuts off rather than having a kickabout in the Solomon Islands!!
0

TimmyH added 19:42 - Mar 25 Hopefully New Zealand flew him home business class - stretch those legs out Tommy and have a few days rest! soon to be our unofficial Player of the Season.
0

harlingblue added 19:59 - Mar 25 Well done Tommy, did the business for your Country, now home to do the same for your Club. Good on you.
0

Talbs77 added 20:59 - Mar 25 What a player this boy could be. What a season he's having since MM's arrival. Scoring the winner for his country, the crucial goals for us the fantastic partnership with Chambers he's created and performances to boot means we have a player who has Premiership potential. The fact he wants to come home early and help the club when he's said previously he wants as many caps as possible speaks volumes of the boy.

0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls