New Zealand’s Brown ‘needs surgery’

New Zealand midfielder Tim Brown’s hopes of playing in the World Cup were thrown into doubt Wednesday when it was confirmed he needs surgery for a shoulder injury, two weeks before the big kick-off.

Brown suffered a fractured bone after falling heavily in a challenge with Australia’s Vince Grella in the All Whites’ 2-1 loss in a friendly in Melbourne on Monday.

New Zealand Football confirmed Brown will undergo surgery in Auckland on Thursday and a decision on whether he will join the team in South Africa was likely next week.

The loss of the 29-year-old All Whites vice-captain would be a major blow for New Zealand in their first World Cup campaign since 1982.

Brown, who plays for Wellington Phoenix, said late Tuesday on his return to New Zealand that his chances of playing in the World Cup had been rated at “50-50”.

New Zealand have travelled to Austria to play two further friendlies before their opening World Cup pool match in South Africa, against Slovakia on June 15.

Midfielder Cole Peverley has been drafted into the squad as standby for Brown.

The 21-year-old was a member of the New Zealand Olympic team for Beijing in 2008 and plays for Team Wellington in the domestic league.