Might be a stronger starting team for game 2 at the ROF. Not much game publicity in Auckland, none of my 09 mates even knew the game was on.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/131569106/extent-of-chris-woods-involvement-for-all-whites-v-china-still-to-be-decided
Wood’s status will only be confirmed once that session is complete, while Bazeley is also keeping a close eye on three players who only arrived in New Zealand from Denmark on Wednesday.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/131569106/extent-of-chris-woods-involvement-for-all-whites-v-china-still-to-be-decided
Wood’s status will only be confirmed once that session is complete, while Bazeley is also keeping a close eye on three players who only arrived in New Zealand from Denmark on Wednesday.
Joe Bell was the last to make it into camp around dawn, with fellow midfielders Elijah Just and Marko Stamenic arriving in the middle of the night.
Wood suffered a haematoma in his left thigh while playing for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League two weekends ago, which forced him from the field just minutes after he came off the bench.
If he isn’t deemed fit enough to start, Alex Greive and Max Mata would be the potential replacements at the pointy end of what is expected to be an attacking trio, with Wood’s leading understudy, Ben Waine, not part of the squad this week.
Bell and Stamenic were the starting midfield duo the last time the All Whites played, but if their late arrivals preclude them from starting on Thursday, Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer and team-mate Clayton Lewis could be called upon to step in.