The All Whites coaches have taken notice of Alex Paulsen’s impressive start to the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The young goalkeeper, who recently re-signed with the Wellington Phoenix through until 2027, is one of three Phoenix players in the New Zealand squad for their upcoming international friendlies against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Defenders Tim Payne and Finn Surman have also been called up to the All Whites for the matches in Greece and Dublin.
Paulsen, Payne and Surman have all played every minute of the Phoenix’s season so far, helping the men make their best ever start to the A-League.
All three weren’t considered for New Zealand’s matches against DR Congo and Australia last month as head coach Darren Bazeley didn’t select any players from the A-League.
It’s not the first time Paulsen has been called up to the senior squad. The age-group international was an unused substitute in the All Whites’ two internationals against the Socceroos last year.
The 21-year-old was also on the bench for New Zealand’s match against China in Wellington in March.
Payne, who celebrated his first A-League goal for the Phoenix on Saturday, has played 33 senior internationals and started at right back in the team’s defeat to Sweden earlier this year.
Surman was called up to the All Whites for the first time for the matches against Sweden and Qatar in June. The New Zealand U-20 captain was an unused substitute in both games.
Alex Paulsen, Tim Payne and Finn Surman will join the All Whites after Friday night’s match against the Melbourne Victory in Melbourne.
New Zealand will play Greece in Athens on Friday, November 17 (Saturday, November 18 NZT) before heading to Dublin to play the Republic of Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 21 (Wednesday, November 22 NZT).
