The pair were due to join the team, which gathered in Auckland yesterday, but were delayed in London after picking up injuries playing for their English Premier League sides over the weekend.
Having received treatment for knee and back injuries respectively, Nelsen and Reid will not arrive in time to travel to Tahiti and will instead go to Christchurch to prepare for Tuesday night’s return match.
For many, the news evokes memories of the team’s disappointing campaign at the OFC Nations Cup, which is the last time the All Whites were without the defensive duo.
However, for Herbert it is merely something all coaches must prepare for, especially when assembling a team from players based all over the world.
“I’m always preparing because you just never know,” he says.
“It’s a big risk having players all around the world in different competitions. At the drop of a hat anyone can be missing. We have a degree of support and back-up so if we have to draw on one of those cards, then we will.”
The option is there for an additional player or two to be brought into the fold for the match in Papeete but Herbert says that is unlikely.
“We won’t bring any players in. We’ve got 16 minimum that will travel to Tahiti and we can only use three subs anyway. I’m comfortable with the depth in this squad,” he says.
“It’s a great group, these guys are just immensely dedicated to the World Cup campaign, as they should be, and if it gives one player a chance who may not have started then I think we’ll see a pretty good result coming out of that player from a performance point of view.”
While unsure of exactly what the starting line-up will look like, he says there are a couple of different pairings that can play in the back four, including the option of putting Leo Bertos in on the right.
Though one thing is certain – he will not be requesting Wellington Phoenix defender Michael Boxall, or further drawing on the already depleted Phoenix squad, who will be without their coach and a number of first-team players when they play Melbourne Heart on Sunday afternoon.
“I think the club’s made a pretty good contribution to this group. That would be a completely unfair request. I guess I feel that from both sides, obviously.”
The Phoenix have provided the All Whites with both goalkeepers, Glen Moss and Mark Paston, plus Ben Sigmund, Leo Bertos, Tony Lochhead and Jeremy Brockie.
Phoenix striker Benjamin Totori is also away on international duty for the Solomon Islands.
The All Whites have already met for a light training since assembling in Auckland and Herbert is pleased with how everyone is looking and coming together.
“They’re all playing at a sharp level and are all in physically good shape,” he says.
“Now we are just working around how we are going to play and who is going to fill what role.”

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