Tim Payne an All Whites veteran in India, but that doesn't change his approach
Tim Payne is the most-capped player in the current All Whites squad.
If experience was what you were after, Tim Payne would be a leading figure in the All Whites squad that's currently in India, preparing for their Intercontinental Cup opener against Kenya on Sunday [2.30am NZ time].
No-one else in the 23-strong group can say they've played alongside Ryan Nelsen or Simon Elliott, two senior figures from the 2010 World Cup campaign, the last time the All Whites were a big deal, and no-one else has as many caps as his 15.
Then again, if you were looking for continuity from the most recent World Cup cycle, he probably wouldn't be your guy. The last coach, Anthony Hudson, had him in three squads early on, brought him off the bench four times, then never called on him again.
Once on the books of English club Blackburn Rovers, Payne has spent the last two years playing in Auckland for Eastern Suburbs, where he has looked a class above, and was named MVP of the national league during the summer just gone.
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New All Whites coach Fritz Schmid called him up in March, giving him the chance to renew an international career which began when he was an 18-year-old in 2012. Now 24, he acknowledges he has more experience than many in the current squad, which features six uncapped players, but he hasn't let that change his approach.
"I just treat every tour that I get picked for as the same," Payne said.
"I try to go out there and affect the game in a positive way and affect the squad in a positive way, [15 caps] is a number, it's nice to have, but at the end of the day, it doesn't make much difference in how I approach the tour."
Payne made his first All Whites start since 2014 in their loss to Canada in March, playing alongside Cam Howieson - a player who has followed a similar career path - at the base of midfield in the new coach's 4-2-3-1 formation, which becomes a narrow, compact 4-4-2 when they don't have the ball.
No major changes to their approach are expected in India, but they will acknowledge the harsh conditions - temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius are forecast, even with matches set to start at 8pm local time.
"Fritz has got his way that he wants us to play, and then we obviously have to take into account the heat," Payne said.
"We can't go out and probably press as much as we did against Canada in that first half - we've got to be realistic about how we're going to approach the game."
Payne said they had had three training sessions ahead of their opening game, against a Kenya side that, like the All Whites, is missing a host of it's biggest names.
"It's obviously always a challenge to come as far as we have done, to India. The conditions are obviously very challenging as well - it's hot - but we've had some good preparation leading up to tomorrow and hopefully we can put out a good performance."
The hosts, India, began the tournament with a 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Saturday [NZT]. The top two teams after the round robin will meet in the final, and Payne said the All Whites are determined they will be there.
"You always look at any game you play and you want to come out on top.
"We want to win every single game we play in this tournament and hopefully we can make that final. We have to be positive going in and try to come away with the win."
Tim Payne says the New Zealand-based All Whites have adjusted well to the heat in India.
Intercontinental Cup
All Whites v Kenya
Mumbai Football Arena; Sunday, 2.30am [NZT]
All Whites (from): Max Crocombe, Nik Tzanev, Michael Woud; Nikko Boxall, Sam Brotherton, Liberato Cacace, Tom Doyle, Justin Gulley, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Dane Ingham, Adam Mitchell; Henry Cameron, Andre de Jong, Moses Dyer, Cam Howieson, Clayton Lewis, Tim Payne, Matt Ridenton, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh; Myer Bevan, Noah Billingsley, Jai Ingham
Kenya (from): Patrick Matasi, Timothy Odhiambo, Bryne Omondi; Jockins Atudo, Michael Kibwage, Musa Mohammed, Bernard Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Johnstone Omurwa, Erick Ouma, Bolton Omwenga; Clifton Miheso, Kenneth Muguna, Chrispin Oduor, Patilla Omoto, Duncan Otieno; John Mark Makwatta, Pistone Mutamba, Ovella Ochieng, Timothy Otieno
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