‘They’re all different’: How the All Whites will cover Chris Wood’s absence against Colombia and Ecuador

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

For the first time since March last year, Darren Bazeley won't have his English Premier League striker available as the All Whites take on opposition from outside Oceania.

Chris Wood won't play in world No 85 New Zealand's matches against No 13 Colombia and No 23 Ecuador in the United States later this month as he seeks to return to full fitness after managing a knee knock. His record-breaking 89th cap and the chance to add to his record haul of 45 international goals will have to wait.

The Nottingham Forest star hasn't played in any of his club's last three matches and though his coach Sean Dyche had indicated a return was 'possible' against Leeds United in the Premier League this weekend, the decision has already been made that Wood won't travel to the US.

'Even if he came back (against Leeds), it's a type of injury that would need rest and recovery post playing,' Bazeley said on Tuesday, adding: 'It's not a bad injury. It's just a knock to his knee that needed some rest and for him to take the loading off. '

'He's very intelligent, he knows his body, and he's managing it very well,' Bazeley said of Wood. 'I think you can see that from the last tour. He was managing it before he came in. We managed it while he was in with us. He didn't play big minutes. He went back and played again after he went back. But then the change of manager [following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou], I think, has given him that time to go 'right, let's get it 100% right'.'

Wood's absence will be a major blow to the All Whites as they face their toughest tests yet since securing their place at next year's FIFA World Cup in North America in March. They have looked better in the three matches he has started since then – 1-0 and 3-1 losses to Australia's Socceroos and a 1-1 draw with Norway – than in the other three, even if those three include their only success in that time, the 1-0 win over Ivory Coast in Toronto in June.

Kosta Barbarouses, who has nine goals in 70 appearances; Ben Waine, who has eight in 26; and Andre de Jong, who has two in 11, will share minutes up front with Wood unavailable. Against opposition from outside Oceania, their records make for even less encouraging reading: One goal in 40 matches; one in 17, when a clearance was smashed into his face and rebounded into the US' goal last October; and one in eight respectively. Against the same teams, Wood has scored 16 in 63.

Barbarouses, who replaced Wood and scored as the All Whites beat New Caledonia to qualify for the World Cup in March, was always going to return after missing their matches in October. That left two places to be filled, where Bazeley has gone for Waine and de Jong, the incumbents from last month, sticking with Waine even though he hasn't played for English League One club Port Vale since August 30. His place in the pecking order at the third-tier side was laid bare on the weekend when he was an unused substitute in an FA Cup first round win over eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree FC.

If nothing else, this window presents an opportunity for the All Whites to prepare for the nightmare scenario where they don't have Wood available at the World Cup, for whatever reason.

“We can perform without him,“ Bazeley said of his star striker. 'We're a way better team with him. If Woodsy's not available, then one of these guys needs to really stand out and bring the best version of himself.

“They're all different. We don't want any of those three to try and be Chris Wood, because they can't be, that's too hard for them. But they all have individual attributes that have put them in a good position in their professional careers, so bring the best version of those things.

“Kosta has been very good for us. His goal in the World Cup qualifier is probably the goal I remember the most, but his positioning is very good defensively. Ben Waine played very well on the last tour and looked strong, aggressive, powerful. He looked like he had running in his legs. Andre is different. Andre is a link-up player. We need to work out, if Woodsy is not available, who is going to play up there.'

Auckland FC's Jesse Randall, who has had three strong performances so far this A-League Men season – one starting up front and two starting on the left – would have been the next cab off the rank. He scored in Auckland's round two win over Western Sydney Wanderers – the last match before Bazeley had to pick his squad – and looked more dangerous than Barbarouses did for their opponents that day, but will have to continue to press his case at club level.

Bazeley has named Marko Stamenić in his squad, but said the extent of the midfielder’s involvement was still to be determined following the death of his father last week. Owen Parker-Price will be on standby if cover is needed, after making his debut in October.

“At this stage he's coming, but obviously we'll work with Marko. Whatever Marko wants and needs at the moment is the most important. I think he wants to come, because I think he wants to be around Kiwis and around his mates. There's people in the All Whites that he's known for a long, long time, that know the family as well. I think Marko will come, but we'll talk to him around what he wants while he's on tour.”

Matt Garbett didn’t play for his League One club Peterborough United last weekend, but Bazeley said he should be back from an ankle sprain this weekend.

Goalkeeper Kees Sims is the one new player in the squad. The under-23 international previously served as the third-choice goalkeeper for Bazeley’s first match in charge, a 0-0 draw with China in Auckland in March 2023.

Alex Paulsen’s strong performances in goal against Poland and Norway in October have left the battle between him and Max Crocombe to be No 1 closer than it ever has been before. Bazeley said he was yet to decide who would take the gloves this month.

“We’ll talk to both of them and see how they both are. Alex did really well on the last the last window for us and that does go a long way, but Max has done well for us previously as well, so they’ve both got good reasons to play.”

Central Coast Mariners right back Storm Roux has got the nod to replace Tim Payne in that position, after the Wellington Phoenix defender broke his collarbone last month.

Liberato Cacace will return at left back after recovering from a hamstring injury at Wrexham AFC, while Elijah Just and Alex Rufer are back in midfield.

Goalkeeper Nik Tzanev, centre back Tommy Smith, left back Lukas Kelly-Heald and Parker-Price have all joined Payne and Wood in dropping out from the October squad.

All Whites – November international window

Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Kees Sims

Defenders: Storm Roux, Bill Tuiloma; Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, George Stanger, Finn Surman; Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries

Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Elijah Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenić, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Andre de Jong, Callum McCowatt, Ben Waine

Fixtures (NZ time)

Sunday, November 16, 1pm: v Colombia; Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Wednesday, November 19, 2.30pm: v Ecuador; Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey