Alex Rufer called up as Chris Wood out of All Whites tour
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Chris Wood has been forced to pull out of the All Whites’ upcoming games in Egypt.
Alex Rufer - captain of the A-League leading Wellington Phoenix - is called in.
Joe Bell and Tim Payne join Wood on the injured list.
An injury on duty for Premier League club Nottingham Forest has ruled All Whites captain Chris Wood out of this week’s tour to Egypt and led to a call-up for Wellington Phoenix skipper Alex Rufer.
New Zealand Football confirmed on Tuesday morning that Wood, Norway-based midfielder Joe Bell and Phoenix defender Tim Payne have withdrawn from the squad.
Rufer - considered an unlucky omission - was listed as the only replacement. The defensive midfielder has led the Phoenix to the top of the A-League and admitted last week he was disappointed to miss the initial cut for Cairo.
The 32-year-old was only playing his second game since a layoff with a hamstring injury.
Wood was assessed after the game and has withdrawn from the All Whites.
He is seen as critical to Forest’s hopes of avoiding relegation, with the club slapped with a four points reduction for a financial rules breach.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo talked about Wood’s importance with Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi still overcoming a groin injury.
“ We need strikers,” Santo told English reporters. “The presence of our strikers on the pitch makes everything different.
“Chris played well and he scored. It is important for us that he is healthy and can help us. Let's assess him and see. Chris and Taiwo are very important for us because they are the strikers we rely on.”
The All Whites play Egypt in Cairo on Saturday (NZ time) and either Croatia or Tunisia next Wednesday.
Coach Darren Bazeley will need a new captain with Bell, who has acted in the role, also out after an injury at his Norwegian premier league club Viking FK.
The armband may go to MLS defender Michael Boxall, an All White since 2011, and now their most experienced player with Wood sidelined.
Wood’s quality and strike power - 34 goals in 74 appearances - can’t be replaced, but the All Whites have plenty of attacking cover in Plymouth Argyle reserve Ben Waine, Ireland-based Max Mata and recalled Wellington Phoenix goal grabber Kosta Barbarouses.
Payne’s role at rightback is likely to be covered by rookie Tyler Bindon, who has played there for English third tier club Reading.
Rufer will replace Bell in the midfield mix.
The 27-year-old has had eight All White caps since 2015, and last played in a scoreless draw with China in 2023.
His father Shane was an All Whites’ defender and his uncle Wynton remains New Zealand’s all-time greatest player.
Bazeley named a 24-man squad initally, but that has now been reduced to 22 with the withdrawal of the injured trio and Rufer’s addition.
Egypt have had some withdrawals of their own, including superstar Liverpool striker Mohammed Salah. The Premier League club asked Egypt for him to be spared the Cairo tournament because he is still geting back to full fitness after a hamstring injury.
Arsenal’s fringe midfielder Mohamed Eleney has also been spelled by Hossam Hassan, who will coach Egypt for the first time against the All Whites.