Soccer: All Whites trawl for talent

Ipswich's Tommy Smith. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand Football will go on another fishing expedition to try to land more players for their World Cup squad.

Ricki Herbert trawled for New Zealand-eligible players when he took over as All Whites coach in 2005 and unearthed Michael McGlinchey, Chris James and Winston Reid.

He will undertake the exercise again in the hope of landing a big catch to join his 23-man squad for South Africa.

"We have time to open up the book again and see if there's anyone out there we don't know about," Herbert says.

An approach has already been made to England youth international Tommy Smith, who plays for Ipswich Town in the English Championship, one level below the Premiership. Herbert planned to discuss it with him this weekend.

The All Whites boss will also renew efforts to convince Reid to switch allegiances from Denmark to New Zealand.

Reid, a 21-year-old centre-back, was born in New Zealand but has played youth internationals for Denmark.

The chances of him playing for the All Whites are less likely than Smith, as Reid has Danish citizenship.

He is being groomed as a future Denmark international and made his debut for FC Midtjylland in the Danish first division as an 18-year-old. His stepfather is also said to be a proud Dane, desperate for Reid to play for Denmark.

"He's another one that is in the same category as Tommy," Herbert says.

"There is an opportunity for him to play for New Zealand but he has to be to be 100 per cent committed."

Smith is a 19-year-old left-sided central defender who can also provide cover at left-back. He was born in England but qualifies for New Zealand on residency grounds, having spent much of his youth here.

He attended Westlake Boys' High School and was part of the national age group set-up.

Smith might still harbour ambitions to play for his country of birth but the number who go on from youth teams to the full England squad is small, as Rory Fallon and James found out.

Herbert would like him to commit to New Zealand before he has the chance to push for higher honours with England.

"Tommy is definitely one I am keen to get involved," Herbert says. "The lure of the World Cup is the biggest selling point and there might not be many people who would say no to that. He might not get that chance in his life again.

"He could go on and play another eight or 10 years for New Zealand and be involved in another couple of World Cup campaigns."

Smith's possible availability will affect the squad of 23 Herbert takes to South Africa.

Herbert immediately declared after the 1-0 win over Bahrain that his squad of 18 for that match could pack their bags.

He then announced goalkeeper Glen Moss, who is Herbert's No 1 but would miss the first two games at the World Cup because of suspension, would also be included.

Giving a guarantee to the 18 seemed premature and allowed little wriggle room when the balance of the wider squad was being considered.

Two players, right-back Aaron Scott and goalkeeper James Bannatyne, hadn't played a minute of World Cup qualifying and it appeared to shut the door on others in their position who played qualifiers earlier in the campaign.

Scott, for instance, couldn't make Waitakere United's starting side against Otago last weekend. He will miss the next two games because he's getting married.

There is also a concern around taking Moss if one of the other two goalkeepers is invalided out of the opening two matches.

But Herbert, while indicating his 18 plus Moss can at least get their bag out, said they should not start packing it just yet.

"We want to put people in there who justify their position," he says. "The 18 [selected against Bahrain] are pretty much there unless something dramatic happens like a complete loss of form.

"It has taken us four-and-a-half years to get to this point and they are the players who got us there. They are a good group. And I wouldn't say there are a million other players out there."

Herbert used 34 players (28 played games) in qualifying. The remaining players for South Africa will likely come from this list but the coach has said there will be an accent on youth.

"We will look at bringing in players who could be moulded in preparation for the next World Cup campaign," Herbert says.

"I don't see any point in taking someone who doesn't have a future."

This will not be what someone such as 32-year-old midfielder Duncan Oughton will want to hear. Oughton played five of the eight qualifiers and also travelled to the Confederations Cup but wasn't in the squad to face Bahrain.

Herbert continued: "In other positions, where there might be a 27- or 28-year-old, we could invest in a 20- or 21-year-old who could really benefit from going to a World Cup."

The availability of Fallon and McGlinchey since the Confederations Cup and the likely selection of Smith has squeezed the chances of others.

Jeremy Christie, Steven Old, Jeremy Brockie, Kris Bright, James and Costa Barbarouses will all come into consideration and could be expected to make up the last three spots.

Six months ago, most would have had realistic chances of going to the World Cup.

Barbarouses, Bright and Brockie appear to be battling for a fifth striker's spot.

Christie, Brockie and James, who is on trial with English League One club MK Dons, will come into the mix in midfield.

Christie and Old can provide cover at fullback and Jacob Spoonley could press a claim for the third goalkeeping spot.

Wellington's Brazilian midfielder Daniel will not qualify in time.

Herbert will consult various coaches around the country to ask their opinion on the best young players.

He also expects the All Whites to play a game in the Fifa window on March 3 and hopes a camp can be organised at the end of the A-League season so he can look at a few players.

There will be dilemmas leading up to the World Cup. As members of the 1982 World Cup side, Herbert and assistant Brian Turner will know how important their decisions are.