WELLINGTON - Chris Killen has been ruled out of New Zealand's soccer tour-ending match against FC Sevilla on Wednesday morning after the striker suffered a shin injury in Hibernian's goalless Scottish premier league draw at Inverness on Sunday.
The 24-year-old was to have joined Bodens BK (Sweden) striker Brent Fisher
as New Zealand's re-enforcement party in the Spanish city of Seville following the All Whites' 5-0 loss at Blackburn Rovers yesterday.
However, Killen has been left hobbling around on crutches after a stud wound exposed bone between the bottom of his shin pad and the top of his right boot.
Killen had the injury X-rayed in hospital and needed four stitches to close up the gash.
"I'll be out of action for a while," Killen said.
"I went in for a challenge and he just went straight through me. It's quite a deep gash and was painful on the way back on the coach, a bumpy three-hour journey.
"It's disappointing because I was really looking forward to Seville, but these things happen."
Killen's injury is a setback as New Zealand look to regroup for their third and final tour match after Saturday's mauling at Ewood Park.
That is no easy task considering they are to face Uefa Cup holders Sevilla either side of the Spanish club's matches against Manchester United (0-3 loss) and FC Barcelona.
The Hibernian striker is the 16th front-liner ruled out of the tour, joining A-league players Leo Bertos, Adrian Webster, Jeremy Christie (Perth Glory), Noah Hickey, Che Bunce (NZ Knights), Vaughan Coveny (Newcastle Jets) and Jeremy Brockie (Sydney FC), US-based Duncan Oughton and Europe-based Glen Moss, Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott, Kris Bouckenooghe, Shane Smeltz, Ivan Vicelich and David Mulligan.
Vicelich and Smeltz played in New Zealand's tour opening 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic, but had to return to club duty at RKC Waalwijk and Halifax Town respectively.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said Killen's late withdrawal was a blow.
"A key to our success this year has been bringing some more established players into each of our tours so the last-minute loss of someone like Chris certainly affects what we are doing," Herbert said.
"We wanted to bring Chris and Brent in for Sevilla and we wanted to play Tony Lochhead in all three games but we haven't been able to. It has an impact but what can you do?
"It's just a continuation of the difficulties we've faced all year."
Lochhead was bedridden for the Blackburn match with a stomach complaint and though the New England Revolution (United States MLS) defender is recovering, he remains in a race against time to be considered for kickoff at 7.45am Wednesday (NZT).
Tightened security measures at UK airports in the wake of last week's foiled terrorist plot meant the All Whites faced a seven-hour journey to Seville via Liverpool overnight despite a flight time of little more than two hours.
Fisher was due in Seville from Sweden two hours after the All Whites arrival.
Herbert was due to name his starting 11 early tomorrow morning.
- NZPA
A stud wound cut Chris Killen's leg to the bone.
WELLINGTON - Chris Killen has been ruled out of New Zealand's soccer tour-ending match against FC Sevilla on Wednesday morning after the striker suffered a shin injury in Hibernian's goalless Scottish premier league draw at Inverness on Sunday.
The 24-year-old was to have joined Bodens BK (Sweden) striker Brent Fisher
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