All Whites coach Danny Hay can call on the services of Newcastle United striker Chris Wood for their World Cup qualifying campaign sooner than expected.
New Zealand take on Papua New Guinea in Qatar on Saturday morning (NZ time) in the first of three qualifying matches this month.
Hay says fixture changes for Wood’s Newcastle mean he could line up for their second outing against Fiji next Tuesday.
"It's earlier than we expected, which is a nice little pleasant surprise for the group to have the likes of [Wood] and Winston [Reid] - those two players, in particular, hold such huge respect within the squad.
Wood wasn't expected until their last game against New Caledonia next week.
"He's going to join us, I think he actually gets here to watch the [first] game or just the second half," Hay says. "He gets here late our time Friday night for that first game against Papua New Guinea and will have a fairly reasonable lead in for that second game as well.
"He loves playing for his country and loves scoring goals, he's very passionate about it. I've got no doubt he'll be chomping at the bit to line up against Fiji."
Newcastle visit fellow Premier League battlers Everton tomorrow morning, with Wood travelling to join his international teammates almost straight after.
Hay also reveals Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail will likely make his international debut against Papua New Guinea.
"Touch wood that nothing happens in our final session today, we’re trying to wrap him in cotton wool as much as we possibly can," Hay says.
"I can't wait to see him pull an All Whites shirt on and walk out there in that starting XI. It's been a long time coming for him, and everybody's seen the quality he possesses and the form he's in at the moment at the Wellington Phoenix.
"He's a top player, but a fine character to have around the environment as well. If he's on top of his game, we're going to be in a really good space."
