N.Zealand´s Brown clings to World Cup hope

Injured midfielder Tim Brown, still hoping to make New Zealand’s World Cup line-up, aims to be back in the gym Monday, four days after having three screws inserted into an injured shoulder.

He said a decision on whether he would go to South Africa would be made on June 10 after a week of rehabilitation and fitness work.

Brown, the All Whites vice-captain, fractured a bone after falling heavily in his side’s 1-2 loss in last Monday’s friendly against Australia.

The 29-year-old initially feared his World Cup was over but following surgery Thursday he said he hoped he would be able to rejoin the team, although he would not go if he was not 100 percent fit.

Brown said Saturday he would leave hospital over the weekend and would be in the gym Monday to work on his fitness.

“I believe if I am fit I can contribute and I can help them. I will go over there if I believe I can do that. If not I won’t just because I don’t think it’s fair.”

Brown said when he first saw an X-ray of his injured shoulder he was devastated.

“I thought my World Cup gone and I had tears in my eyes. I thought it was all over.”

But, he said the surgeon told him “he had aced it” and the three screws had anchored the bone in place. He was lucky the ligaments and muscles were intact.

While Brown recovers at home, the New Zealand team has gone to Austria for altitude training and to play two further friendlies before their opening World Cup pool match in against Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 15.