Soccer: All White undergoes surgery

All Whites vice-captain Tim Brown underwent successful shoulder surgery today but it is too soon to tell if he can be fit for next month's soccer World Cup.

New Zealand Football released a statement saying Brown underwent a 105-minute procedure to repair the fracture in his upper arm, suffered when he fell heavily during the team's 1-2 defeat to Australia on Monday.

Brown had three screws inserted into the bone to secure the fracture.

"Initial indications are positive and that the surgery went well, but it is too early yet to say what the recovery time frame for the injury is," the statement said.

Brown will remain in hospital for the next two days and should be out on Saturday.

He will visit his specialist in a week's time for another assessment to determine whether he can head to South Africa within a fortnight.

Brown rated his chances of playing at his first World Cup as 50-50 when returning to Auckland on Tuesday. He has until June 14 to prove his fitness - when coach Ricki Herbert has to name his final squad for the World Cup, 24 hours before the All Whites' opening match against Slovakia.

Wellington midfielder Cole Peverley today flew out to join the All Whites at their training camp in Austria as cover for Brown.

- NZPA