26 May 2017

Barbarouses back in All Whites

12:00 pm on 26 May 2017

The Phoenix forward Kosta Barbarouses has earned a recall to the New Zealand football squad for their pre-Confederations Cup warm-up fixtures.

Kosta Barbarouses in action for the All Whites in 2016.

Kosta Barbarouses in action for the All Whites in 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The All Whites coach Anthony Hudson has named a 23-man squad, which will be largely the same for the Confederations Cup.

Barbarouses returns after missing selection for the World Cup qualifiers against Fiji in March.

"There has never been any doubt about Kosta's ability," said Hudson.

"The most pleasing thing for me was since the conversation we had after he missed the March window, his performances were really strong, he scored some goals and played really well. He was doing things that I was looking for previously. I want Kosta at his very best. On his day he can hurt any national team in the world and we want more of his best days. I know he will add to this squad immensely."

Striker Chris Wood, who won the Golden Boot in the English Championship for Leeds United this season, will captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Winston Reid, who's recovering from knee surgery.

The All Whites, who staged a training camp this week in Auckland, will face Northern Ireland, Dublin club side Cabinteely FC and Belarus in the lead-up to the 'Tournament of Champions' from June 2-12.

Also making a return to the All Whites is Central Coast Mariners wing-back Storm Roux. The 24-year-old, who has played seven internationals for New Zealand, has not been in an All Whites squad since 2015.

Dane Ingham, who made his international debut at the age of 17, has left a lasting impression on Hudson and he feels that he will enjoy performing on the big stage.

"He's technically very good and physically he is an athlete. He is quick and he is strong for a 17-year-old. The qualities I am looking for are character and bravery and he showed that immensely on his debut for the Roar and for the All Whites. I don't think anything at the Confederations Cup is going to faze him."

Older brother Jai, who made his debut in the same match, has not been named alongside his sibling.

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson.

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. Photo: Photosport

Hudson said this is probably the hardest window in terms of decisions that he has had to make and that Jai could consider himself unfortunate.

Hudson said the key to a successful build-up will be making sure that everyone is in a strong physical condition and they have the chance to build on the game plan, and also continue to develop their team values and spirit.

"We want to make sure that when people see us play on this tour they see certain traits about us. These qualities will give us the best possible chance of winning."

All Whites squad for the pre tour of the FIFA Confederations Cup (Club, Country, Caps, Goals)

Goalkeepers

Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching, Germany) 14, 0

Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk, Netherlands) 1, 0

Glen Moss (Newcastle Jets, Australia) 29, 0

Defenders

Andrew Durante (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 15, 0

Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 4, 0

Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners, Australia) 7, 0

Michael Boxall (SuperSport Utd, South Africa) 22, 0

Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes FC, USA) 8, 0

Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina FC, Greece) 10, 1

Deklan Wynne (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canada) 7, 0

Sam Brotherton (Sunderland AFC, England) 7, 0

Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town FC, England) 31, 2

Dane Ingham (Brisbane Roar FC, Australia) 1, 0

Midfielders

Bill Tuiloma (Marseille, France) 16, 0

Clayton Lewis (Auckland City FC, New Zealand) 8, 0

Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 42, 4

Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands) 9, 2

Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory FC, Australia) 32, 5

Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 3, 0

Forwards

Chris Wood (c) (Leeds Utd, England) 47, 19

Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC, England) 9, 1

Shane Smeltz (Borneo FC, Indonesia) 53, 24

Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix FC) 37, 3

All Whites fixtures pre-FIFA Confederations Cup

2 June v Northern Ireland in Belfast, Northern Ireland (3 June NZT)

6 June v Cabinteely FC in Dublin, Republic of Ireland (7 June NZT)

12 June v Belarus in Minsk, Belarus (13 June NZT)

2017 FIFA Confederations Cup - All Whites draw

17 June 6pm (3am 18 June NZT) v Russia, Krestovsky Stadium, St Petersburg

21 June 9pm (6am 22 June NZT) v Mexico Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

24 June 6pm (3am 25 June NZT) v Portugal, Krestovsky Stadium, St Petersburg