Soccer: McGlinchey keen to step up for All Whites

Michael McGlinchey in action for the All Whites. Photo / Getty Images

As remarkable as the All Whites' achievements at the 2010 World Cup were, there's a section of observers who wonder what they might have done if Michael McGlinchey had been thrown on for the final 20 minutes in the last game against Paraguay.

They might have lost instead of drawn 0-0 as they chased an unlikely win, but they might have won and progressed to the second round.

McGlinchey has pondered the proposition himself because he's a player who can make something happen but it's a question that will never be answered.

Nearly two years on from those heady days in South Africa, McGlinchey is well placed to play more of a leading role. The 24-year-old former Scotland youth international looms as Simon Elliott's natural long-term replacement in midfield.

Elliott will be missing from the All Whites squad for this month's international against Jamaica at Mt Smart Stadium. The official reason is he's injured but it's unlikely he would have been picked as coach Ricki Herbert runs his eye over others like McGlinchey and the LA Galaxy's Dan Keat.

How much longer Elliott will make himself available for international duty is difficult to predict - he could be involved in June's first round World Cup qualifiers - but it's hard to imagine the 37-year-old being involved when New Zealand enter the final stages of qualifying for Brazil.

"I never got any game time at the last World Cup, which was a big disappointment for me,'' McGlinchey said. "Being there, I could see what it was all about. And it was massive. The next World Cup would be a great age for me because I will be a lot more mature.''

He's already developing into a very good footballer. His career stalled somewhat after becoming the youngest player to debut for Scottish giants Celtic (15) and youngest to play for the Hoops in the Scottish Premier League (17). He was even persuaded by former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to turn down a move to Manchester United to remain with Celtic.

He was subsequently released by Celtic and unwanted by other Scottish clubs but a move to the A-League in 2009 and commitment to play for New Zealand - he was born in Wellington - turned things around.

"It's been going from step-to-step,'' said McGlinchey, who has another year on his Central Coast contract. "The Mariners have been top of the table for the last two years and hopefully I can continue the progress with the New Zealand team as well.

"I don't really set too many goals, taking it season-by-season, but I am really enjoying it and the standard of football is as good if not better than the SPL so I'm happy to stay here.''

He's a major reason why the Mariners sit atop the A-League ladder. A lot of their attack goes through McGlinchey, who plays the right side of a narrow midfield, and he also takes a lot of their set pieces.

They have suffered a couple of defeats recently to bring them back to the pack but still lead by five points over defending champions Brisbane with a game in hand.

On Saturday, they host a Wellington Phoenix side keen to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Brisbane and maintain their own title aspirations.

McGlinchey knows it's another chance to play in front of Herbert and not only convince the national coach he can do a job for the All Whites but also as one of three over-23 players in the Olympic side, should they qualify next month.

"I'm massively keen to play at the Olympics,'' he said. "That's anther reason why I am trying to keep my performances high in the A-League. You never know, you might get called upon.''

And that's all McGlinchey wants. A chance.