Old drafted in to All Whites squad for Mexico

Kilmarnock defender Steven Old has been drafted into the New Zealand squad to face Mexico in Los Angeles on March 4 (NZT) to replace injured All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen.

Nelsen hyper-extended his knee in Blackburn's 3-0 English Premiership win over Bolton on the weekend and while scans subsequently revealed no structural damage the kiwi skipper faces four to six weeks on the sidelines.

That rules him out a trip the trip to Los Angeles but should see him back in time to lead New Zealand at its second ever World Cup finals appearance and through the last stages of preparation beginning with the recently announced trans-Tasman clash against the Socceroos in Melbourne on May 24.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, currently in South Africa as part of a New Zealand delegation on a World Cup fact-finding mission, said Nelsen's long-term fitness tempered the disappointment of losing him for a crucial warm-up match.

"It's a four-to-six week concern, but that should alleviate concerns about his fitness for the World Cup, which is the most important thing for us," Herbert said.

Old was a member of New Zealand's Confederations Cup squad last year - playing just one pre-tournament friendly against Tanzania - after joining Scottish Premier League Kilmarnock a few months earlier on a three-year deal.

Herbert said Old was the logical choice to provide cover for a defence missing Nelsen and the suspended Ivan Vicelich, a pair that boast well over 100 caps between them.

"Steven's been part of the squad before and is very much part of the wider group so given Ivan's suspension and now Ryan's injury it makes sense to bring him in."

"He's at Kilmarnock, he's training regularly at a professional club so it's a good time for him to come back in."

Ben Sigmund and Andy Boyens, the then-inexperienced but effective defensive pairing in a 2007 draw against Wales, look likely to join newcomer Tommy Smith if Herbert continues with the 3-4-3 formation that proved so successful against Bahrain over two legs.

The New Zealand-based All Whites depart for Mexico on March 1.

Confirmed World Cup build-up

March 4 - New Zealand v Mexico in Pasadena, USA; 5:00pm (NZT)

May 24 - New Zealand v Australia at the MCG, Melbourne.

May 29 - New Zealand v Serbia in Klagenfurt, Austria

June 4 - New Zealand v Slovenia in Maribor, Slovenia

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

June 15 - New Zealand v Slovakia in Rustenburg; 11.30pm (NZT)

June 21 - New Zealand v Italy in Nelspruit; 2:00am (NZT)

June 25 - New Zealand v Paraguay in Polokwane; 2:00am (NZT)