KEY POINTS:
Ryan Nelsen's decision to bypass next Saturday's All Whites' World Cup qualifiers against Vanuatu in Port Vila, and Wellington four days later, again tests the patience of soccer fans, New Zealand Football bosses and coach Ricki Herbert.
Nelsen yesterday withdrew from the 18-man squad for the matches to
remain in England with his wife, Monica, who is expecting their first child "any day".
Nelsen's desire to be with his wife is understandable. But given his past record and the number of games he has bypassed for the national side since he last played for them in Adelaide in July 2004, questions must be asked. Herbert is being sorely tested by Nelsen's ongoing unavailability but refuses to comment other than saying, "I wish Ryan and his wife all the best for the birth of their child. For the rest of us, we have a strong focus on the home and away matches with Vanuatu."
Herbert, obviously, is torn.
It would be simple for him to say "enough is enough" and cut Nelsen the slack he wants to continue his footballing career outside the international arena.
While that might make little difference in the short term, the All Whites could never contemplate going into the business end of World Cup qualification without their best player.
It is a catch-22 situation - one for which there is no easy answer.
Nelsen is vital to the team. His ability and leadership qualities are unquestioned.
His passion and desire to play for his country is another issue and the depth of it is becoming more difficult to fathom.
If it is not injury, it is the call to club duty or the need for a break after a long season which keeps him on the other side of the world.
Playing for his country, which he continues to insist means so much to him, is a mere bit part fitted around his professional career.
For the big football-playing nations, the absence of one player means little. For New Zealanders who have not seen Nelsen "in the flesh" since goodness knows when, hope lives eternal.
Nelsen is set to be named "international player of the year" again at the NZF awards function on November 19 and attended by the All Whites en route from Port Vila and Wellington.
How must those players feel when yet again they are over-shadowed by a player who many feel is playing little more than lip service to "their" sport?
No one, surely, will dare pose that question.
* Herbert will not replace Nelsen for the Vanuatu matches. The only change in the team, who beat Fiji 2-0 in Lautoka last month and will again be captained by Tim Brown, will be the replacement of back-up goalkeeper James Bannatyne by Jacob Spoonley. The team assemble in Sydney on Tuesday and fly to Port Vila next Friday.