Soccer: Mulligan displays his depth at a pivotal time

David Mulligan. Photo / Getty Images

Tomorrow's match should help Herbert settle his few final tricky selections for South Africa.

David Mulligan can probably count his deliriously happy weeks under Ricki Herbert at the Phoenix on one hand.

After another frustrating club season though, he may finally have reversed this trend at the perfect time.

Once regarded primarily as a fullback, Mulligan has also emerged as a potential defensive midfielder for the All Whites at the World Cup in June.

The 28-year-old Mulligan, I believe, will be one of the winners from the national camp at North Harbour where All Whites boss Herbert is still contemplating the final few selections for the four-game build up to the World Cup and then the tournament in South Africa.

The squad, named on Monday, will play Australia on May 24, attend a two-game camp in Europe, and play Chile in South Africa before going into their three World Cup Group F battles.

With Jeremy Brockie faring well on his return from injury, the selection debate looks to be down to a couple of places.

Step up Chad Coombes, in particular, and also Jason Hayne - because top drawer performances for the NZFC All Stars against New Zealand A at Albany tomorrow may get them to South Africa.

Another player to keep firmly in mind is Steven Old, from Scottish premier league side Kilmarnock. Old has advantages, being a defender from the fully professional ranks.

Also in the mix is Aaron Scott, who like Mulligan was among the 18 who prepared for the Bahrain qualifiers.

When Herbert reversed his initial stance and said the Bahrain squad members were not all guaranteed World Cup selection - a change partly due to the arrival of newly eligible defenders Tommy Smith and Winston Reid from Europe - fringe defensive players Mulligan and Scott immediately became the centre of non-selection speculation.

One of the strongest comments I have heard in and around the national camp is that the fully professional players have a distinct advantage in fitness and performance.

Scott is certainly facing an uphill battle. Not only is he playing for Waitakere in our amateur league, but he has been out of favour and was on the bench for the O-league final. Among the All Whites squad that took on Bahrain, Scott is most under pressure for a World Cup place.

Mulligan appears to be in the better position. He has played just three matches in two seasons under Herbert at the Phoenix, none in the last season, and has been released - hardly a good omen.

But he has a strong professional background with lower league English clubs, as well as coming from the Phoenix environment. Added to that, he had an influential match in a defensive midfield capacity against Auckland City last Saturday.

Herbert said: "David wasn't left out (at the Phoenix) because of poor form - it was because others were in better form. He is far from missing out for the World Cup.

"I think there has got to be someone better than David for us to replace him, and I'm not sure that there is."

On Scott, Herbert said: "Aaron's position is a difficult one because he hasn't been selected domestically which is a concern.

"I can go on his performance in the Confederations Cup against Iraq, a good opponent, where he played extremely well.

"He was someone we thought would hold that position - but he has gone back to his club and ... that has not been overly productive for him. It's going to be a tight call."

Coombes, who played at right wing back in his All Whites debut against Mexico in March, remains an interesting proposition.

For a start, the All Whites are short on fullbacks, the only outright one being left-sider Tony Lochhead, who is still shaking off an injury. Coombes has a certain x-factor which may prove attractive. That Herbert started him against Mexico is noteworthy.

Coombes showed flashes of his class for Auckland City against New Zealand A last Saturday, including one terrific long diagonal ball and some dribbling runs. There were also hints of his old bugbear, an angry temperament. He had an okay match against Mexico, although his composure and radar were off when it came to crossing the ball.

Hayne starred for Auckland City at the world club championship, where Coombes also hit the headlines with a wonder goal.

But Hayne has not made every post a winner since returning. That he did not get any game time against Mexico indicates he is further down Herbert's pecking order.

So, 16 of the Bahrain squad appear to be certainties, with suspended goalkeeper Glen Moss, Smith, Reid and Brockie set to join them in South Africa.

When Herbert and his advisers sit down on Sunday night, Mulligan and Old's professional experience might help them win the nod. As for a bolter, the nervous money would go on Coombes. But tomorrow's match is still important for a final desperate few.

POSSIBLE NZ SQUAD
Glen Moss, Mark Paston, James Bannatyne; Tony Lochhead, Ryan Nelsen (c), Ivan Vicelich, Ben Sigmund, Tommy Smith, Winston Reid, Chad Coombes, Steven Old; David Mulligan, Simon Elliott, Tim Brown (vc), Andy Barron, Andy Boyens, Jeremy Brockie, Michael McGlinchey, Leo Bertos; Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon, Chris Wood, Chris Killen.

NZ A v NZFC All Stars
North Harbour Stadium, 2pm tomorrow

New Zealand A: Mark Paston, Glen Moss, Aaron Scott, James Pritchett, Tony Lochhead, Dave Mulligan, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Andy Barron, Leo Bertos, Jeremy Brockie, Tim Brown, Aaron Clapham, Cole Peverley, Costa Barbarouses, Shane Smeltz.

NZFC All Stars: James Bannatyne, Jacob Spoonley, Chad Coombes, Adam Cowan, Ian Hogg, Tim Myers, Jason Rowley, George Barbarouses, Jake Butler, Jason Hayne, Tom Lancaster, Adam McGeorge, Allan Pearce, Andy Coburn, Greg Draper, Brent Fisher, Russell Kamo, Seule Soromon.