New Zealand vice-captain Tim Brown, who had surgery after fracturing his shoulder in a friendly against Australia on May 24, was cleared on Wednesday to fly to South Africa to join his team for the World Cup finals.
Brown, 29, will leave for on a flight early Thursday morning after what New Zealand officials described as an “incredible rehabilitative effort”.
He was passed fit to travel and return to New Zealand’s 23-man squad after talks between his Auckland surgeon Stu Walsh and team doctor Celeste Geertsema.
Coach Ricki Herbert was quoted in local news reports as saying all the coaching staff and players were looking forward to having Brown back in the camp.
“Tim is a vital member of the squad on and off the field and he has been instrumental in creating our strong team culture,” Herbert said.
Brown, a hard-working central midfielder, is a veteran of 25 internationals and captained the New Zealand team in last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa which regular skipper Ryan Nelsen missed because of injury.
Cole Peverley, who joined the squad in Austria as a replacement for Brown, is expected to stay with the team until Brown’s fitness for matches in the finals is proved.
