Clapham The Only Surprise in New Zealand World Cup 2010 Roster Announcement

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has named his 23-man squad for the World Cup, with uncapped midfielder Aaron Clapham the only shock inclusion in the party.

Clapham, who plays for Canterbury United in the semi-professional New Zealand Championship, has impressed all season long for his club side; being named the league’s Player of the Year.

He was included in the 15-man training squad for Australasia-based players and was given the chance to impress Herbert when he was selected for a New Zealand A side against a New Zealand Football Championship All Stars XI at the weekend. Clapham made the most of his opportunity, setting-up his side’s second goal in a 2-0 triumph.

"Aaron has come into this group and looked very comfortable," Herbert said of the 23-year-old.

"He is the type of player that should be around the international scene for many years and he has a big future in the professional game.“

Surprises in Herbert’s squad announcement were always likely to be few and far between after the former All Whites international said he would stick with the 18 players who achieved qualification for New Zealand for the first time in 28 years.

Aaron Scott is the only player who featured in qualifying to miss out, following the recruitment of fellow defenders Tommy Smith and Winston Reid. Both players have recently switched their allegiances to New Zealand having previously represented England Under-18s and Denmark Under-20s respectively.

Also featured in the squad is the New York Red Bulls defender Andy Boyens and midfielder Jeremy Christie, who plies his trade for Tampa Rowdies in the North American Soccer League.

The squad is due to assemble in Auckland on May 19, taking on local rivals Australia five days later. From there New Zealand travel to Austria for altitude training and two further friendlies against fellow World Cup participants Serbia and Slovenia.

With only captain Ryan Nelsen currently playing in one of Europe’s top leagues, the All Whites are rank outsiders for the tournament in South Africa. They begin their World Cup campaign against Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 16, before taking on World Champion’s Italy and finish off Group F against Paraguay.

New Zealand squad in full (New Zealand based, unless stated):

Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory/ Australian A-League), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix/ Australian A-League)

Defenders: Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls/MLS, USA), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix/ Australian A-League), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers/English Premier League), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland/Danish Superliga), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix/ Australian A-League), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town/Championship, England), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City)

Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix/ Australian A-League), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix/ Australian A-League), Jeremy Christie (FC Tampa Bay Rowdies/NASL, USA), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell/Scottish Premier League), David Mulligan (unattached)

Forwards: Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets/ Australian A-League), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle/England), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough/English Championship), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United/ Australian A-League), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion/English Premier League)