Soccer: All Whites call up Old for Nelsen

Kilmarnock defender Steven Old has replaced the injured Ryan Nelsen for next week’s game against Mexico. Photo / Getty Images

Scotland-based defender Steven Old has been drafted into the All Whites soccer squad to face Mexico in Los Angeles next Thursday to replace injured captain Ryan Nelsen.

Nelsen suffered a hyper-extension of his knee in Blackburn's 3-0 England Premier League win over Bolton on Monday and while scans revealed no structural damage, he faces four to six weeks on the sidelines.

He is hoped to be fit for the final stages of the All Whites' World Cup buildup, starting with the recently-announced transtasman match against the Socceroos in Melbourne on May 24.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, currently in South Africa as part of a New Zealand delegation on a World Cup fact-finding mission, said Nelsen's long-term fitness tempered the disappointment of losing him for a crucial warmup match.

"It's a four to six week concern, but that should alleviate concerns about his fitness for the World Cup, which is the most important thing for us," Herbert said.

Old was a member of New Zealand's Confederations Cup squad last year - playing just one pre-tournament friendly against Tanzania - after joining Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock a few months earlier on a three-year deal.

Herbert said Old was the logical choice to provide cover for a defence missing Nelsen and the suspended Ivan Vicelich, a pair that boast well over 100 caps between them.

"Steven's been part of the squad before and is very much part of the wider group so given Ivan's suspension and now Ryan's injury it makes sense to bring him in.

"He's at Kilmarnock, he's training regularly at a professional club so it's a good time for him to come back in."

Ben Sigmund and Andy Boyens, the defensive heroes of a 2007 draw against Wales, look likely to join newcomer Tommy Smith if Herbert continues with the 3-4-3 formation that proved so successful against Bahrain over two legs.

The New Zealand-based All Whites depart for Mexico on March 1.

All Whites squad

Goalkeepers: Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), James Bannatyne (Team Wellington).

Defenders: Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Steven Old (Kilmarnock), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Brentford).

Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell), Craig Henderson (Mjllby AIF, Sweden).

Forwards: Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion).

- NZPA