20 Mar 2017

All Whites skipper to miss World Cup qualifiers

8:54 am on 20 March 2017

All Whites captain Winston Reid will miss the upcoming football world cup qualifiers against Fiji after being injured while playing for English club West Ham.

Reid limped off with a groin injury in West Ham's 3-2 loss to Leicester City.

Reid will not be replaced in the squad and striker Chris Wood will captain the side in Reid's absence.

Winston Reid

Winston Reid Photo: Photosport

"It's disappointing he is not coming because he is such an important player, he is a great character and I know how much he was looking forward to being here," said coach Anthony Hudson.

"But with regards to the team we have been in this position many times. We have got a good squad, we are adaptable and we have enough in this squad to deal with this tour so we are prepared for this."

Striker Monty Patterson will also miss this weekend's game in Lautoka and the return fixture in Wellington on next Tuesday due to a hamstring injury.

Patterson, who plays for Ipswich Town in the English Championship, will be replaced by Phoenix midfielder Alex Rufer.

The All Whites have a four day training camp in Wellington this week before heading to Fiji.