Town centre-half Tommy Smith could be named New Zealand’s vice-captain and be in line to ultimately succeed current skipper Ryan Nelsen. With Tottenham’s Nelsen, 34, missing next week’s Oceania Nations Cup games, which double as World Cup qualifiers, with an ankle injury, Smith could captain his side at the tournament.

Coach Ricki Herbert, who is looking to appoint someone "for future leadership", has confirmed that Smith and West Ham defender Winston Reid are candidates for the role vacated by Tim Brown, who has retired.

Herbert will make his decision when the All Whites are in the Solomon Islands for the Oceania Nations Cup matches.

Smith, 22, is set to start for New Zealand in tonight’s friendly with El Salvador in Houston. An interim captain is expected be named from the more senior players for that game and for Saturday’s game against El Salvador, in Dallas.

The All Whites then travel to the Solomon Islands where they take on Fiji (June 2nd), Papua New Guinea (June 4th) and the hosts (June 6th) with all the matches played in the capital Honiara.

Smith, who has won nine full caps, is also expected to be in the New Zealand U23 squad — the Oly Whites - who play Belarus, Brazil and Egypt at the Olympics later in the summer, matches which mean he will miss much of the Blues’ pre-season programme.

Photo: Action Images

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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