Led by new Tottenham signing Ryan Nelsen, the squad is bookended by uncapped Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Dan Keat and 73-cap veteran defender Ivan Vicelich.
The All Whites World Cup defensive trio – Nelsen, Tommy Smith and Winston Reid – could be reunited for the first time since South Africa although the form of Wellington Phoenix stopper Ben Sigmund will give Herbert food for thought.
Glen Moss, who is recovering from a torn adductor, is one of two players not considered through injury – along with Simon Elliott (hernia) – so recent debutant Jake Gleeson joins Mark Paston as the second goalkeeper.
The attacking stocks include established pair Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz but there is room for in-form Bristol City marksman Chris Wood and Russia-based Kosta Barbarouses while Herbert has not ignored the efforts of Jeremy Brockie, who has already notched eight goals in the A-League this season.
Phoenix centurion Tim Brown looks likely to anchor the midfield while Michael McGlinchey’s role at international level could continue to grow, and Marco Rojas, Leo Bertos and Tony Lochhead provide Herbert with plenty of options.
It means there is no room for World Cup squad members Rory Fallon, Andy Boyens, Jeremy Christie, Aaron Clapham or David Mulligan nor for players who have had recent call ups like Craig Henderson, Michael Boxall and Michael Fitzgerald.
Herbert is pleased with the log jam for places.
“I don’t think a New Zealand coach has ever named a team where so many overseas pros have been left out and it has certainly been a hard squad to whittle down to just 18 players,” Herbert says.
“When everyone is fit it’s clear I have some very tough choices to make and they are choices I don’t make lightly. There are players not making this trip who have given a great deal to the success of the national team and will certainly do so again in the future.
“The desire to represent New Zealand has always been high within this group and the healthy competition will continue through to starting spots. We’ve got players who performed at the World Cup and others have forced their way in with their form for club or country in the time since then.
“It’s a squad we think can send a message to CONCACAF. There are a couple of young players I need to take another look at and this will be our only chance to run our eye over Dan Keat before the qualifiers.”
The international against 52nd-ranked Jamaica will be the All Whites’ last match before the long road to Brazil 2014 begins in June with the OFC Nations Cup. If New Zealand progress through the 11 qualifiers in Stage 2 and 3 of the Oceania region, Herbert’s side will face a home-and-away playoff in November 2013 against the fourth best CONCACAF nation – Jamaica is currently ranked fifth in the region – to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
All Whites squad to face Jamaica
(Club – caps/ goals)
Goalkeepers
Jake GLEESON (Portland Timbers, USA – 1/0)
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix – 28/0)
Defenders
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix – 34/0)
Ryan NELSEN (captain, Tottenham Hotspur , ENG – 45/6)
Winston REID (West Ham, ENG – 9/1)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix – 18/1)
Tommy SMITH (Ipswich Town, ENG – 8/0)
Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City – 73/6)
Midfielders
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix – 39/0)
Jeremy BROCKIE (Newcastle Jets, AUS – 24/0)
Tim BROWN (Wellington Phoenix – 29/0)
Dan KEAT (Los Angeles Galaxy, USA – 0/0)
Michael MCGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners, AUS – 10/1)
Marco ROJAS (Melbourne Victory, AUS – 2/0)
Forwards
Kosta BARBAROUSES (Brisbane Roar, AUS – 4/0)
Chris KILLEN (Shenzhen Ruby, CHN – 39/11)
Shane SMELTZ (Perth Glory, AUS – 37/17)
Chris WOOD (Bristol City, ENG – 17/1)
Management
Head Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Project Manager: Brian TURNER
Goalkeeper Coach: Clint GOSLING
Technical Support: Neil EMBLEN
Technical Adviser: Raul BLANCO
Team Manager: Phil WARBRICK
Physiotherapist: Roland JEFFERY
Massage Therapist: Wade IRVINE
Doctor: Mark FULCHER
Media Officer: Jamie SCOTT
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

Share