All Whites coach Danny Hay and Sarpreet Singh. Photo / Photosport
All Whites coach Danny Hay and Sarpreet Singh. Photo / Photosport
Key All Whites midfielder Sarpreet Singh is under an injury cloud ahead of the upcoming games against Algeria 'A' and The Gambia, after picking up a knock in his club game last weekend.
The New Zealand side has assembled in Abu Dhabi ahead of the matches on Saturday and Wednesday(NZT) in Dubai.
Singh has a "knee niggle" and is unlikely to be considered for the behind closed doors encounter with Algeria 'A', with any involvement against Gambia to be assessed over the coming days.
"He tweaked something around his knee," said All Whites head coach Danny Hay. "Flying isn't great but he has shown a lot of commitment to come down here and work through the treatment with the medical staff. Hopefully he will be right for the Gambia game … but if he is not right we are certainly not going to risk him."
Singh underlined his importance with a starring role in October's 2-1 over Curaçao. He is New Zealand's most creative player and has been in rare form for Jahn Regensburg in Germany's second tier, with three goals in his last four matches.
US-based defender Bill Tuiloma has been ruled out with a leg injury, but there is sufficient cover at centre back. Hay is hopeful everyone else will be fit, with a few players still to arrive.
The Algerian side is a domestic-based squad, which means the likes of Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) and Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) won't be involved.
But Algeria are one of the top nations in Africa – currently only behind Senegal, Tunisia and Morocco in Fifa's rankings – so even their second team will be strong.
Algeria 'A', who will compete in December's Fifa Arab Cup in Qatar, have already beaten the full national teams of Syria, Burundi and Liberia this year.
Nevertheless, Hay will take the chance to "tweak" the formation and use an experimental lineup, before rolling out the top XI against Gambia.
The All Whites during their clash against Bahrain. Photo / Photosport
He wants to see "growth" from the October window, as the All Whites continue to build toward World Cup qualifiers next year.
"It's an opportunity for some players to really step up and show us what they are capable of," said Hay.
The squad may also have an unusual diversion, with the opportunity to attend the Black Caps World Twenty 20 semifinal against England.
The All Whites will train at Abu Dhabi Cricket club on Wednesday evening local time, an hour before the cricket match starts.
"Those players that want to go along and watch the second innings can do so," said Hay. "As long as we can get some food and they can re-hydrate and do all the stuff they need to do.
"It is a good 48 hours ahead of the Algeria game and it would be nice, particularly for the Kiwi cricketers, to have a little bit more Kiwi support."
Hay, assistant coach Darren Bazeley, analyst Kane Wintersgill and kit man Zach Haydon have been based in Abu Dhabi since mid-October, after the last international window.
That was a stop gap measure as they had been unable to secure a place in the MIQ system to come home.
Hay finally got a spot overnight and will return to New Zealand on December 8, after visiting players and clubs in Europe at the conclusion of this window.
"I'm the only one of the four who got a spot," said Hay. "I'm pleased that I got it, for my family, but at the same time the captain doesn't want to leave a ship. It's hard when the other guys miss out. It's pretty unfair but it's the system we have got, hopefully it changes sometime soon."
All Whites games
Saturday, November 13 - 5am: v Algeria A Wednesday, November 17 - 5am: v The Gambia
