Wanganui football export James Musa will graduate to full national honours next Friday after the 22-year-old was called into the All Whites squad to face South Africa at Mt Smart Stadium.
Having just linked up with South Melbourne FC in National Premier League Victoria last month, defender Musa joins WellingtonPhoenix midfielder Jason Hicks as new faces called up by interim coach Neil Emblen.
South Melbourne were willing to release Musa for national duty after a series of withdrawals from the All Whites squad.
Attacking pair Shane Smeltz and Kosta Barbarouses have pulled out with injury and Winston Reid, Tommy Smith and Chris Wood have opted to rest following club commitments.
Emblen said that provided an opportunity for Hicks and Musa, "who are hungry young players excited by the chance to prove themselves in the All Whites environment".
The All Whites call-up follows a progression for Musa, who was chosen for the Oly Whites at the 2012 Olympic Games, which led to a position with the Fulham Under-21 team and a spot in the New Zealand A squad, which played Jordan in 2013.
He came back from England to play for Team Wellington, who were runnersup in the ASB Premiership this summer, before linking with South Melbourne. Musa flies back to Auckland on Monday and goes straight into the All Whites camp.
