Fulham midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias has been denied the chance of making his New Zealand debut this week after suffering a hamstring injury on his second day of international duty.
The Fulham under-21 captain, who was born in Lower Hutt, had been called up to the All Whites squad for the friendlies against DR Congo and Australia but head coach Darren Bazeley told the press that he had returned to Fulham for treatment after sustaining an injury almost as soon as he arrived in Murica.
“It’s really disappointing for us and for him as well. He was really excited to be part of it. He’s a player we have been talking to for a while. He’s been progressing his own career at Fulham, but now he’s at a pretty good place there. He came in, met everybody, had a couple of days’ training and was looking really good but unfortunately he sustained a slight muscle injury in the middle of the second session and he’s gone back to Fulham now to be assessed by their medical department.”
