Soccer: Maybe, maybe not for Killen

Chris Killen. Photo / Getty Images.

Chris Killen may be made to wait even longer to make an overdue return for the New Zealand soccer team.

He has joined the All Whites in Bangkok for matches against Thailand and Thailand A but a calf injury means there is no guarantee he will get to play.

Injuries and commitments to Scottish premier league club Celtic have meant the 27-year-old has not played for his country since a World Cup qualifier against Fiji in Lautoka in October, 2007.

Killen, who has been loaned out by Celtic to English Championship side Norwich City until the end of the season, wants to end the drought against Thailand on Sunday morning (NZT), but there is a chance he will not get his way.

Coach Ricki Herbert today stressed Killen would not be risked if he was anything below 100 per cent physically ready for the game.

"Chris has a calf problem and we will wait as long as we can just to see how he comes through," Herbert said of Killen, who has scored 15 goals for his country.

Herbert is keen to team striker Shane Smeltz alongside Killen for just the second time and it may be that the combination does not get a chance to gel until the All Whites play Thailand A in the Thai capital next Wednesday morning (NZT).

"Let's hope we don't get too frustrated if we can't play them together again, but there is a possibility we won't be able to start them.

"That would be disappointing, but we are prepared to go to the nth degree to try and make it work."

Another forward, United States-based Jarrod Smith, is another in doubt for the match because of a niggling thigh injury.

"We will also monitor that but he probably won't take part in the first game," Herbert said.

The matches in Thailand form part of New Zealand's final build-up to the Confederations Cup in June and a World Cup qualifying home and away playoff in October and November.

The Thais like to play a fast-paced game, tactics which could cause the All Whites some anxious moments.

Herbert has been shocked at the heat and humidity in Bangkok and although the two games are being played at night the New Zealanders will battle the conditions.

"The conditions here are incredibly hot, I'm not quite sure if I've experienced them before."

To compensate Herbert has eased the players' workload since they assembled in the city.

The Thais will not be a pushover. Herbert admits to knowing little about Thailand apart from their recent results, including a 0-0 draw with Iran and a 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia, both of whom the All Whites could potentially meet this year.

"Their recent results point to this being a pretty stiff challenge for us. At home, with the crowd and environment, they will be a good challenge, an excellent challenge."

Preferred All Whites team to play Thailand: Mark Paston, David Mulligan, Ryan Nelsen (captain), Andrew Boyens, Tony Lochhead, Simon Elliott, Tim Brown, Duncan Oughton, Jeremy Brockie, Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen.

- NZPA