Veteran Smith backed to make World Cup

Braintree Town defender Tommy Smith has just returned from injury [Getty Images] Braintree Town defender Tommy Smith has been backed to swap a National League relegation battle for a World Cup summer. The veteran New Zealand defender, 35, returned from injury to play his first full 90 minutes since November in the 1-1 draw against Morecambe last Saturday. Smith will not join up with the Kiwis in Auckland during the upcoming international break for a final training camp and friendlies against Finland and Chile.

But Braintree manager Steve Pitt told BBC Essex that Smith remains part of New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley's plans and backed him to be on the plane to the USA in the summer. "Darren Bazeley has said he would rather than Tommy stayed with us for the next training camp than actually play to benefit him for what lies ahead in the summer which is a real positive," said Pitt. "He has obviously been a stalwart for New Zealand for a long long time – 15 years plus and is very well thought of off the pitch as well.

"His ambition is to be on that plane to the USA. From his point of view that is the prize and I think he is heading very positively towards it. " Braintree, who are three points from safety in 23rd place with eight games to go, host fifth-placed Scunthorpe to Cressing Road on Saturday.

Listen: Pitt on Tommy Smith's 'positive' World Cup hopes