For a player used to the trappings of professional football, signing for the ASB Premiership champions was far from a step down.
“Coming back to Auckland City FC has been a great experience so far on and off the pitch.
“I’ve been able live at home with my parents after time away. We’re still training up to five times per week so we’re being as professional as you possibly can be.
“I’m very excited and can’t wait for the FIFA Club World Cup. I can’t wait to get to Morocco,” he says.
Payne’s All Whites career hasn’t suffered despite finding himself playing in the amateur ASB Premiership.
“I’m just trying to settle in and play my part for the team. If I score a goal it’s an added bonus for me but the result for the team is all that matters.
“There’s always a transitional period when you come to a new club but the various styles do have overlaps where there are similarities.
“Ramon Tribulietx (coach) likes us to have the ball a lot, which is different but I’m enjoying it, it’s been good,” he says.
Auckland City FC face Uzbekistan in a friendly match on Thursday in Dubai and it’s a fixture Payne has some previous with having come on as a late substitute in the All Whites 3-1 loss to the Asian Cup qualifiers.
“Anthony Hudson is very switched on and knows how he wants to play. He has goals and aspirations as a coach and as a group so do the All Whites. It’s a very exciting time for the national team.
“I just want to keep making future All Whites squads and play as many games as I can. The aim is to get back to the FIFA World Cup. That’s the ultimate goal.
“My ultimate goal as an individual is to get back into a full time professional environment but right now Auckland City FC is a great place for me to be,” Payne says.
Auckland City FC face Uzbekistan in Dubai, UAE, on Thursday 4 December, kick-off at 4.30pm local time.
Live text updates of the match will be available at www.aucklandcityfc.com
Thursday 4 December, 2014/Friday 5 December, 2014
Friendly Match
Uzbekistan v Auckland City FC
Dubai, UAE
Kick-off: 4.30pm local time/1.30am NZST
Live text updates of the match will be available at www.aucklandcityfc.com
Wednesday 10 December, 2014/Thursday 11 December, 2014
FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 play-off
Moghreb Tétouan (MOR) v Auckland City (NZL)
Rabat, Morocco
Kick-off: 7.30pm local time/8.30am NZST

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