Iron midfielder Clayton Lewis has been called up by New Zealand Under-23s for their upcoming international double header against their Australian counterparts.
Head coach Des Buckingham is bringing together a group that includes both domestic and overseas-based players, including five with senior All Whites experience in goalkeeper Michael Woud, United player Lewis, Logan Rogerson, Myer Bevan and Noah Billingsley.
The countries have not come up against each other at Under-23 level in over a decade with the last meeting a 3-2 win to Australia in Sydney in 2008.
They have met 10 times over the years with New Zealand’s only positive results being a famous 1-0 triumph in Adelaide in 1996 and a 1-1 draw in Auckland in 2004.
New Zealand U-23 squad for Australia friendlies
Michael Woud (Willem II, Netherlands)
Conor Tracey (Central United)
Cameron Brown (Central United)
Jordan Spain (Cashmere Technical)
Hunter Ashworth (UC Santa Barbara, USA)
Sean Liddicoat (Coastal Spirit)
George Stanger (Hamilton Academical, Scotland)
Billy Jones (University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA)
Dalton Wilkins (FC Helsingor, Denmark)
James McGarry (Willem II, Netherlands)
Dane Schnell (Western Springs)
Dylan de Jong (Eastern Suburbs)
Gianni Stensness (Unattached)
Noah Billingsley (UC Santa Barbara, USA)
Jake Porter (Onehunga Sports)
Oliver Whyte (Rio Ave FC, Portugal)
Logan Rogerson (Unattached)
Max Mata (Nomme Kalju, Estonia)
Myer Bevan (Western Springs)
Clayton Lewis (Scunthorpe United, England)
Elijah Just (FC Helsingor, Denmark)
The All Whites Under-23s will first face Australia Under-23s on Friday, September 6, 2019 at the WIN Stadium, Wollongong before facing them again on Monday, September 9, 2019 at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Campbelltown.
Both encounters will kick-off at 7.30pm local time (9.30pm NZT, 10.30am UK time).