Soccer: Fallon to get All Whites call

Rory Fallon. Photo / Supplied

Rory Fallon will finally get the call he's been waiting for when Ricki Herbert drops him a line tonight and asks him if he's keen to be an All White.

It shouldn't take long for Fallon to reply.

"It would be a great honour to play for my country," the striker said from England where he plays for Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

The 27-year-old son of former All Whites coach Kevin Fallon will only get his chance after Fifa recently changed the rules on eligibility.

Previously, players like Fallon, who played youth internationals for England, needed to elect their country by the time they turned 21 but they can now choose anytime if they haven't played for the full senior side.

Winston Reid (Denmark) and Tommy Smith (England) are other options for New Zealand but it is Fallon and Michael McGlinchey (Scotland) who Herbert intends to approach.

"I will make some calls to see where players sit," Herbert said. "Rory is one and Michael is another.

"With that September window coming up, it's a chance to bring in one or two players to have a look at them."

Fifa made the rule change five weeks ago, largely because of pressure from African countries who often lost their best young players to Europe only for them to fall out of favour when they graduated from youth level. Herbert said he resisted making approaches until now to clarify how the change would be brought in so he could approach players with certainty.

"New Zealand Football have indicated it's all go," he said.

Herbert should take both Fallon and McGlinchey, if he's interested, to Jordan in September for likely friendlies against the hosts and Iraq.

This year looms as one of the most crucial in New Zealand football history with the home and away playoff against Saudi Arabia or Bahrain for a spot at next year's World Cup and every avenue should be explored.

Fallon is playing at a higher level than most of the present All Whites and more regularly than the likes of Celtic striker Chris Killen.

He was born in Gisborne but played a handful of games for England at youth level after joining Barnsley in 2000.

The 1.88m target man has since played at Shrewsbury, Swindon, Yeovil, Swansea and Plymouth, who forked out a club record £300,000 ($770,000) for him in 2007.

He has scored 13 goals in 44 league games for Plymouth in two years, mainly coming off the bench, and he has recently been linked with a move to an unnamed Championship side.

Efforts were made by Herbert in 2006, 2007 and 2008 to pick Fallon for the All Whites but he was over 21.

McGlinchey, 22, was born in New Zealand but threw his lot in with Scotland, who he represented at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup. The midfielder was recently released by Celtic but is soon to trial with A-League side Central Coast.