New Zealand Coach Ricki Herbert Calls In Four MLS Players

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert went with a youthful roster which will face Japan and China this month. The preliminary roster of 30 will be shaved down to 22 names to make the trip.

Four of the initial 30 play professionally in MLS. World Cup veterans and Chivas USA teammates Simon Elliott and Andrew Boyens are joined by Portland Timbers backup goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Michael Boxall.

Former D.C. United center back Ryan Nelson will likely captain the team, and Charleston Battery midfielder Cole Peverley is on the roster as well, to complete the heavy U.S. bond.

Gleeson should make the final 22-man roster, since he is one of only two fit goalkeepers included in the 30. Boxall, the Whitecaps’ first pick in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft, might need to impress with Vancouver to make the cut.

“The opportunity to represent New Zealand at any level is a huge thing,” Boxall told whitecapsfc.com. “To be called up to the full national team is a huge honour. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the New Zealand national team set-up, having played for the U-20’s and the Olympic team. I’m looking forward to getting in the mix again.”

Full roster:

Goalkeepers

Glen Moss (Gold Coast United, Australia – 16/0)
Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers, USA – 0/0)
Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix – 28/0)

Defenders

Andrew Boyens (Chivas USA, USA – 16/0)
Michael Boxall (Vancouver Whitecaps, Can – 0/0)
Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata, Jap – 0/0)
Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix – 33 0)
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers, Eng – 45/9)
Winston Reid (West Ham, Eng – 8/1)
Luke Rowe (Birmingham City, Eng – 0/0)
Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix – 16/1)
Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town, Eng – 7/0)

Midfielders

Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix – 39/0)
Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets, Aus – 21/0)
Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix – 27/0)
Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay, Usa – 26/1)
Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United – 2/0)
Simon Elliott (Chivas USA, USA – 68/8)
Craig Henderson (Mjallby, Swe – 0/0)
Michael Mcglinchey (Central Coast Mariners, Aus – 7/0)
Cole Peverley (Charleston Battery, USA – 1/0)
David Mulligan (Auckland City – 25/3)
Marco Rojas (Wellington Phoenix – 0/0)
Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City – 71/7)

Forwards

Kosta Barbarouses (Brisbane Roar, Aus – 1/0)
Kris Bright (Budapest Honvéd, Hun – 4/1)
Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle, Eng – 11/3)
Chris Killen (Shenzhen Ruby, Chn – 36/18)
Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United, Aus – 34/18)
Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion, Eng – 14/1)