All Whites goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic has withdrawn from the team to face Jordan and Azbekistan this month, after testing positive for COVID-19.
The former Wellington Phoenix custodian, now with Israeli club Hapoel Nof HaGalil, was due to join the national side at Abu Dhabi, but failed his pre-flight test and will be replaced by uncapped Matthew Gould from English semi-pro outfit Altrincham FC.
Marinovic, 30, is fully vaccinated and if he recovers during the two-game, he may still join the NZ camp. Coach Danny Hay can also call on Tokyo Olympians Michael Woud and Jamie Searle between the sticks.
"Obviously, first and foremost, we wish Stefan a speedy recovery," says All Whites coach Danny Hay. "Luckily, he isn’t experiencing any major symptoms and is vaccinated, so I’m sure he will be back on the pitch soon.
"We have good depth in goal. Even though we are missing Stef, as well as Oli Sail recovering from injury, I have every confidence in Michael and Jamie, who were both part of our Olympic campaign.
"The situation also now gives us the opportunity to bring Matthew Gould in for the first time, someone who has been on our radar for a while."
The fixtures against 90th-ranked Jordan and 84th-ranked Uzbekistan are the latest in New Zealand's World Cup qualifying build-up, with the Oceania regional tournament scheduled for Qatar from March 14-30. Winners of that event will face the fourth-placed North and Central America team.
Ranked 110th in the world, the All Whites face Jordon at 4am, January 29 (NZ time) and Uzbekistan at 4am, February 2.
All Whites squad: Matthew Gould, Jamie Searle, Michael Woud, Michael Boxall, Nikko Boxall, Francis de Vries, Kelvin Kalua, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Winston Reid, Tommy Smith, Bill Tuiloma, Dalton Wilkins, Joe Bell, Clayton Lewis, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Joseph Champness, Andre de Jong, Elijah Just, Calum McCowatt, Logan Rogerson, Chris Wood.
