Musa out to impress Herbert

James Musa is probably learning to brace himself for big news every time he steps off a 24-hour plane ride.

Last time the 20-year-old Wanganui soccer star was home at New Year's on a break from his English Premier League club Fulham FC, he mentioned wanting to go out on loan to get crucial game time.

Less than 48 hours later he got back to London to learn he was off to Hereford United FC.

Coming home for a mid-year break, Musa touched back down in New Zealand last week and was immediately selected for the New Zealand A squad to play the full Jordan national side in Auckland tonight.

The young defender will wear the No 18 jersey in the Neil Emblen-coached team, which contains 150 A international caps among the 16-member squad.

Jordan ranked 77th in the world are set to play Australia in a crucial Asian zone Fifa World Cup qualifier in Melbourne on June 11.

Seven of the New Zealand A squad played for the All Whites in their last Fifa Oceania World Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands, while the experience level is boosted by 86-cap veteran Ivan Vicelich.

However, Emblen said tonight was more about the young guys wanting to put their hands up for the future.

"Ricki [Herbert] will be watching from the stand, and the aim will be for the players on the pitch to make it hard for him to leave them out of the next All Whites squad.

"You often wonder how our players are developing within professional environments outside of the first team.

"We don't get to see guys like James Musa at Fulham Under 21s or Hereford, or Cam Howieson in the Burnley youth side," said Emblen.

Kick-off is 7.30pm tonight at North Harbour Stadium. The game is on Sky Sport 2.