The quiet ascension of an attacking talent from Te Puke was completed yesterday when 19-year-old Ryan Thomas was included in the All Whites squad to meet Japan in Tokyo next month.
Interim All Whites coach Neil Emblen named the talented teenager, who scored his first league goal for his DutchEredivisie side PEC Zwolle last week, in his 18-man squad to play Japan on March 5.
There are nine players under the age of 25 and Thomas is one of three teenagers in the squad but he is already showing maturity beyond his years.
"Coming into the squad, I just want to stay calm and be myself,'' Thomas said. "If I play the way I always play, things will be good. I'm just aiming to play good football.''
It's something Thomas has been doing a lot of in recent times with the youngster adapting quickly to life at the top level in Holland.
After initially joining PEC Zwolle on a one-year deal mid-way through 2013, he earned a contract extension before December with the youngster now locked up by the Dutch club through to 2018.
"Since I've been here I've matured a lot in the way I play, and I've also learned a lot from the players about the things off the pitch as well.''
Thomas' learning curve followed an arc through the Northern Regional Football League with Melville United and the ASB Premiership with Waikato FC while the talented teen also featured in the New Zealand side at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey.
"The under-20s was good for me. I learned a lot and it was good to play in front of big crowds before I left for Holland.
"I like playing as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing. I think my strengths are my passing and dribbling, plus I'm a hard worker.''
When the squad meets up in Japan, Thomas will see some familiar faces from the age-group World Cup experience with Tim Payne, Cameron Howieson, Tyler Boyd, Bill Tuiloma and Storm Roux all included in Emblen's youthful side.
The squad signals a new era for the All Whites, with a number of long-term internationals missing in favour of the new crop of players who are expected to play a significant hand in the next World Cup campaign.
Japan are using the game as a warmup for this year's World Cup in Brazil.
