Greg . 7 hours ago

New Zealand recall forgotten midfielder Thomas for 'Soccer Ashes'

After six injury-blighted years in Dutch club soccer, midfielder Ryan Thomas is set to make his long-awaited New Zealand return in a pair of friendlies against Australia next month to the delight of All Whites coach Darren Bazeley.

Thomas, whose last international appearance was a friendly against Ireland in late-2019, was named in Bazeley's squad for the trans-Tasman clashes on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old's return comes after a rare period of fitness that has seen him recover a starting role for PEC Zwolle in the Dutch top tier.

Having the 19-cap All White fit and firing would be a major boost for New Zealand ahead of their return to the World Cup at the 2026 finals in North America.

"It's like a new signing, almost, which we don't get, obviously, because we're not a club team," Bazeley told New Zealand media on Tuesday.

"Having somebody of the calibre and quality of Ryan coming back into the team is great.

"Hailing from Te Puke, a small town renowned in New Zealand for its kiwifruit, Thomas made his professional debut for PEC Zwolle as a 19-year-old winger before reinventing himself as a holding midfielder.

A transfer to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2018 was hailed in New Zealand as one of the biggest signings in its football record.

It all went sour within days, though, as Thomas ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament at training and spent the next few seasons battling a succession of knee problems until his release from PSV in 2022.

He returned to his first club but the injuries continued at PEC Zwolle, with another round of knee surgery wiping out much of 2024.

Amid his struggles, Thomas opted out of playing for international football but was among the first to congratulate captain Chris Wood when the All Whites sealed their 2026 World Cup qualification in March.

Bazeley has been patient with Thomas, saying he would keep the door underway as long as he could before the global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But he was pleasantly surprised the midfielder had made himself available for the September 5 and September 9 matches against Australia, having hoped he might return for away fixtures against Poland and Norway in October.

"He was like, 'Man, I've never played against Australia and I really want to play against them.

' So yeah, he’s in, which is great," said Bazeley.

New Zealand skipper Wood, who scored a double in Nottingham Forest's Premier League opener against Brentford, was also included in Bazeley's squad for the trans-Tasman "Soccer Ashes" inspired by the cricket contest between Australia and England.