Fallon is in a race against time to be fit enough to take the field but his rapid recovery from a hernia operation has given him an outside chance of coming off the bench at Westpac Stadium.
Getting a run out in the capital would be extra special for Fallon, who booked himself a place in Kiwi sporting folklore with the goal that sealed New Zealand’s return to the World Cup nearly a year ago against Bahrain.
“The injury is coming along well but I have to get through training. If I don’t come through okay I won’t risk it but it would be great to come on for 10 or 20 minutes in Wellington,” he says.
“I’ll be sensible about it though and do what’s best for my long-term health and for the team. But I’d love to get out there again.
“Hopefully we can get another good result against Paraguay to keep up the momentum we’re building.”
New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has the luxury of still being able to field three high-quality strikers in Fallon’s absence with the proven Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen joined by 18-year-old Chris Wood, who is in confident mood after netting his first All Whites goal on Saturday night against Honduras.
But Herbert has indicated if Fallon passes a late fitness test, he will get the chance to join the World Cup homecoming at the site where he helped book New Zealand’s ticket to South Africa.
“We’ll use him if he’s right and it’s safe to do so. Wellington is where this team’s story really took off and it would be nice to see Rory out on the park in the white shirt again. I’m sure the fans would appreciate that too.”
The All Whites and Paraguay both flew into Wellington on Sunday, the South Americans after an at-times feisty 1-0 defeat to Australia in Sydney.
New Zealand v Paraguay
October 12, 2010
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
kickoff 7.30
Tickets from www.ticketek.co.nz
New Zealand (from): 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 2-Ben SIGMUND, 4-Winston REID, 5-Ivan VICELEICH, 6-Ryan NELSEN (captain), 7 Simon ELLIOTT, 8-Tim BROWN (75), 9-Shane SMELTZ, 10-Chris KILLEN, 11-Leo BERTOS, 12-Glen MOSS (RGK), 14-Rory FALLON, 15-Michael MCGLINCHEY, 16-Aaron CLAPHAM, 17-David MULLIGAN, 18-Andrew BOYENS, 20-Chris WOOD, 21-Jeremy CHRISTIE, 22-Jeremy BROCKIE
Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Paraguay (from): 1-Justo VILLAR (GK), 2-Dario VERON, 3-Claudio RODRIGUEZ, 4-Cesar BENITEZ, 6-Carlos BONET, 7-Hernan PEREZ, 8-Osmar MOLINAS, 9-Federico SANTANDER, 10-Edgar BENITEZ, 11-Nestor CAMACHO, 12-Diego BERRETO (GK), 13-Enrique VERA, 14-Paulo DA SILVA (captain), 15-Victor CACERES, 16-Cristian RIVEROS, 17-Marcos RIVEROS, 18-Nelson VALDEZ, 19-Derlis ORUE, 20-Osvaldo MARTINEZ.
Coach: Geraldo MARTINO
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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