New Zealand Football confirmed today that Ryan Nelsen and Winston Reid are still in London after picking up injuries over the weekend and are receiving treatment from their respective club medical teams.
Nelsen has remained in London to have a knee injury assessed by QPR medical staff after receiving a knock at West Bromwich Albion, while Reid is still awaiting the results of scans after suffering from back spasms in the loss to Arsenal.
The squad flies out to Tahiti on Thursday (NZT) and if all goes well Nelsen and Reid could link up with their international teammates in Tahiti.
“We’ve been aware of the injuries since the weekend, and unfortunately they have prevented the players from travelling,” said New Zealand Football High Performance Director Fred de Jong.
“We will continue to liaise with the players and medical staff at their respective clubs to give them the best possible chance of playing for the All Whites,” de Jong added.
de Jong is hopeful Nelsen and Reid would be available the return leg in Christchurch next Tuesday night and echoed the comments made by Chief Executive Grant McKavanagh yesterday.
“We’re looking at the continuity within this team, between now and next November,” said de Jong.
All of the 18-man squad were involved in the first two fixtures against New Caledonia and Solomon Islands in September.
The All Whites continue their campaign against Oceania champions Tahiti in Papeete on October 13 (NZT) before the return fixture in Christchurch three days later.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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