NZF/October 1, 2007

AUCKLAND – Injuries have again forced Ricki Herbert’s hand but the Thai Airways All Whites coach is confident he has more than enough firepower to ensure a winning start to New Zealand’s FIFA World
Cup qualifying campaign later this month.

Herbert today named an 18-man squad for New Zealand’s opening Oceania Nations Cup-World Cup qualifying matches against Fiji on October 13 (North Harbour Stadium) and October 17 (Churchill Park,
Lautoka).

Ryan Nelsen has been named captain with Herbert hopeful the central defender’s on-going hamstring problems won’t prevent him from playing in either Blackburn Rovers UEFA Cup tie against visiting
Greek Cup winners Larissa FC on Friday (NZT) or their premiership match against visiting Birmingham City on Monday (NZT) before he departs for Auckland.

Glasgow Celtic striker Chris Killen, Dutch first-division defender Ivan Vicelich and UK-based midfielder David Mulligan – the latter currently on loan at Grimsby Town from Scunthorpe United – have
all been named.

Story courtesy of NZF Media…

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