All Whites' star striker Chris Wood has been named on the bench for New Zealand in this afternoon's FIFA World Cup qualifying clash with Peru.
The news is a slight improvement on earlier reports today that Wood was to be left out of the match entirely with a suspected hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old striker suffered the injury playing for Burnley against Manchester City last month.
1 NEWS understands the striker was given as long as possible to prove his fitness for the match this evening.
The All Whites face Peru in the first leg of their intercontinental play-off in Wellington this afternoon at 4.15pm, before the return leg in Lima on November 16, with the winner earing a spot at next year's Football World Cup in Russia.
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE ME