Soccer: Injuries Herbert's main concern

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert may only give his top players 20-30 minutes game time against Slovenia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Whites soccer coach Ricki Herbert is starting to fear injuries above all else as the World Cup looms.

Herbert today revealed that loomed as his principle concern as the New Zealanders prepare for their final World Cup warmup match in Europe, against Slovenia at Maribor on Saturday morning (NZT).

New Zealand have one other hitout ahead of the World Cup, against Chile in South Africa on June 10 (NZT), six days before their group F Cup opener against Slovakia.

But Herbert reiterated the Chilean game was being used as a training exercise only, that he placed no importance on the result and that he would take the chance to field those players denied game time during the warmup period.

A 1-2 loss to Australia, followed last weekend by a superb 1-0 win over world No 15 Serbia in Austria, have left Herbert and his players more than satisfied with their progress.

Another solid effort against Slovenia will round off their preparations nicely, but Herbert could not hide his concern that injuries might at some stage intrude.

He twice referred to injuries and the need to both manage the team's training workload as well as restrict his top combination's time on the field ahead of the opening Cup match.

He was to ease off on the training schedule today and would not settle on his starting 11 to play Slovenia until tomorrow, but there seemed every likelihood his top players would not be asked to play a full 90 minutes.

"If everybody's all okay and we're comfortable with our position then we'll probably not be too dissimilar than we were against Serbia," he said today of the composition of a likely starting 11.

"What I will probably consider is players not being on the pitch for so long.

"The team named to play Slovenia may be on the pitch for 20 to 30 minutes only," he said from the team's training base at the Austrian town of Bad Waltersdorf, just across the Slovenian border from Maribor.

The New Zealanders have suffered only one major injury setback since their World Cup preparations hit high gear last month, with experienced midfielder Tim Brown back in New Zealand recuperating from shoulder surgery after being hurt against Australia. He has until June 10 to prove hits fitness for the World Cup.

Aside from that, Herbert said he had no serious injury concerns, although striker Chris Killen has a tight hamstring, probably exacerbated by the heavy travel schedule of recent weeks.

Killen missed the win over Serbia to attend his wedding, and Herbert did not think the injury would preclude his playing on Saturday.

As well, midfielder Michael McGlinchey, who was not considered for that game due to a similar injury, is fit and available for this weekend.

The success over Serbia widened Herbert's selection net as young newcomers, defenders Tommy Smith and Winston Reid, continued to impress after being given starting opportunities alongside captain Ryan Nelsen.

"They've played one game together and heading into Slovakia, if we think that's going to be the back three, then they will need more time.

"They'll be very strongly considered to play against Slovenia. We've done a lot of work with them this week, as we have with all the defenders.

"Those two have continued to grow and I couldn't be more happier with them."

Herbert said the performance and the result over Serbia set the All Whites a benchmark to strive to maintain.

"We had a couple of lapses in the Australian game and I wanted to see whether this group could deal with those sorts of lapses against a team rated higher than Australia.

"Now, I don't want to complicate where those players need to be on the 15th (Slovakia)."

- NZPA