The All Whites have called up the Waitakere United midfielder Jake Butler to replace the injured captain Winston Reid for the World Cup playoff with Mexico, beginning next week.
Reid was ruled out of the qualifier on Thursday after suffering an ankle injury in training for his Premier League Club West Ham United.
Butler earned the second of his two international caps in the All Whites' last competitive outing against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain in October.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert says Butler's inclusion is just reward for the midfielder who was set to lead Waitakere United in the club's ASB Premiership opener against Southern United on Sunday.
