Six potential new caps have today been named in an extended 30-man New Zealand national squad for international football friendlies against China in Wuhan on March 25 and Japan in Tokyo on March 29.
Included in the squad are former New Zealand age-group players and new Major League Soccer recruits Jake Gleeson and Michael Boxall, the former almost certain to make the final cut of 22 to be named next Tuesday, given the injury that currently sidelines Mark Paston.
Two current New Zealand under-20 squad members - in-form Wellington Phoenix young gun Marco Rojas and Birmingham City's Luke Rowe - have been included and Herbert may use the opportunity a tour to Asia provides to cast his eye over J-League fullback Michael Fitzgerald.
Craig Henderson gets a second chance to start his All Whites career after a serious knee injury put a swift end to the Sweden-based midfielder's first call up last March.
Meanwhile, Kosta Barbarouses, who narrowly missed the final squad for the World Cup in South Africa last year, is back in the mix after a stellar season leading the Brisbane Roar attack with 11 A-League goals. Kris Bright, who recently signed with Budapest Honved, is the only other player included that did not travel to the 2010 World Cup.
The squad represents the starting point for Herbert to build a team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, a mission which starts in earnest with six Oceania qualifiers next year.
"We were able to look beyond the last World Cup when we selected that squad so now we have a pretty solid core of players to begin with and ones that served their country very well," All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said.
"But just as we did back in 2005 when we started the last journey we will begin to look for other players who can help take us to a World Cup. It's about bringing players into the mix and seeing how they respond to the challenges of international football and how well they fit into the team culture."
The extended list of 30 names will have at least five more under-23 players added to it as Herbert moves to increase the linkages between the All Whites and the Olympic (under-23) team, who are due to play their qualifiers in Fiji early next year.
Herbert will help appoint, and work closely alongside, the New Zealand under-23 coach while there is expected to be a greater crossover between the management staff of both groups to improve continuity.
"The Olympics are a prestigious event and it's important that we qualify for it and do well. It also has flow on benefits for our Brazil 2014 campaign," Herbert said.
"We'll have the likes of Tommy Smith, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses and three over-age players all eligible for London, and there'll be some players pushing for inclusion in the All Whites as we get further down the World Cup cycle.
"It makes sense to have greater crossover between the two environments in terms of players and staff."
