Singh hasn’t played for the All Whites since January last year — due to a problematic groin injury — while Thomas hasn’t featured since the Danny Hay’s first window in November 2019, after an awful run with injuries along with some personal issues.
Bazeley is hopeful both players will be in contention to return in June, for the matches against Sweden in Stockholm and another game in Europe against a yet to be confirmed opponent.
Bill Tuiloma and Ben Waine have been left out for this series, after discussion with Bazeley, due to club commitments.
Waine is trying to nail down a spot at new club Plymouth Argyle, who have a league game during the international window and are chasing promotion. He is in contention to be involved in the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium against Bolton Wanderers on April 3.
Tuiloma has recently completed a move to MLS side Charlotte FC and will stay with his new team for this window.
“Both Ben Waine and Bill Tuiloma were disappointed not to be able to take part in this window but from discussions with them both I’m happy that it is the right decision for their individual club careers, and they have both committed to future international windows,” said Bazeley.
Two senior goalkeepers have been selected (Oli Sail and Stefan Marinovic) and a third will join the matchday squad from the under-22 side for each All Whites game.
“This series gives us the opportunity to start the new World Cup cycle off and get our home fans excited about what is to come for this squad,” said Bazeley. “Congratulations to Callan Elliot on his debut call up after a great season with the Phoenix. He is a player I know well from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic campaign so it will be great to see him in the full All Whites environment.
“I’m also pleased to bring Max Mata and Alex Rufer back. Max is a player in form over in Ireland, having recently scored a league hat trick, and Alex has obviously now fully recovered after a long time out with injury and is in good form with the Phoenix.”
All Whites squad
Kyle Adams (0 caps) - San Diego Loyal, USA
Kosta Barbarouses (52 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Joe Bell (12 caps) - Brøndby IF, Denmark
Michael Boxall (40 caps) - Minnesota United, USA
Liberato Cacace (12 caps) - Empoli, Italy
Callan Elliot* (0 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Matthew Garbett (12 caps) - NAC Breda, Netherlands (on loan from Torino)
Alex Greive (7 caps) - St Mirren, Scotland
Cam Howieson (16 caps) - Auckland City FC, New Zealand
Dane Ingham (12 caps) - Newcastle Jets, Australia
Eli Just (13 caps) - AC Horsens, Denmark
Clayton Lewis (21 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Stefan Marinovic (30 caps) - Unattached
Max Mata (1 cap) - Sligo Rovers, Ireland
Callum McCowatt (10 caps) - FC Helsingør, Denmark
Tim Payne (30 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (11 caps) - Sligo Rovers, Ireland
Marco Rojas (43 caps) - Colo-Colo, Chile
Alex Rufer (7 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Oli Sail (6 caps) - Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Tommy Smith (49 caps) - Colchester United, England
Marko Stamenic (11 caps) - FC Copenhagen, Denmark
Chris Wood (70 caps) - Nottingham Forest, England
Deklan Wynne (15 caps) - Charleston Battery, USA
Fixtures
Thursday 23 March 2023
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
3:30pm: New Zealand U-22 v China
7pm: All Whites v China
Sunday 26 March 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
12:30pm: New Zealand U-22 v China
4pm: All Whites v China
