New All Whites coach Danny Hay has made no secret of his desire to play an attacking brand of possession-based football and there are few players more suited to that approach than Sarpreet Singh.

The prodigiously talented playmaker has been through a meteoric rise in recent months, starring for the Wellington Phoenix before catching the eye further at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and then earning a dream move to Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

That journey is set to continue on Friday morning (NZT) when the All Whites take on the Republic of Ireland in the first match of Hay’s reign and there is great interest in the potential impact of Singh, who is hoping to play a key role over the coming months in his country’s bid to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“I think you’ll see a very attack-minded team – we really want to keep the ball and hurt teams,” Singh says of Hay’s philosophy.

“It’s about controlling the game for as long as we can, with and without the ball. I think with the players we have now, the structure and the set-up gives us a lot of freedom to express ourselves. Ireland will be a good test but we’re ready for it and we want to see where we’re at. It’s all very positive at the moment and we’re excited.”

Singh’s ascent has been so swift that he has barely had time to reflect and it’s hard to believe it’s less than two years since he first burst onto the scene with the Phoenix.

“It’s been an incredible journey to get to where I am,” he says.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and life is good in Munich, I’m loving it there and it couldn’t be any better. As a player, I think I’m improving and developing immensely. I’ve been there for five months now but it feels like it’s gone quite quickly. I guess that’s what happens when you enjoy it and have fun.”

Still only 20-years-old, Singh has been playing regularly for Bayern’s second team in the third tier of German football and is in good form after scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over FC Magdeburg last weekend. While he featured during pre-season and has been included in the club’s UEFA Champions League squad, he is yet to appear for the first team in a Bundesliga game and is looking to do all he can to make the step up.

“I’m pleased individually, I think I’m doing well and improving. I’ve been playing in all sorts of positions between midfield and further up and it’s good to be able to develop different positions. So that’s been good for me but, as a team, we’ve been up and down. Some games we’ve been doing well and have been right in it but then sloppy errors and things like that have cost us. It’s about being more consistent and learning to fight to stay in the game.”

Being based in Europe also has its advantages in regards to All Whites duty with Singh needing to only make the comparatively short trip from Munich to Dublin for this window, rather than enduring a long-haul trek like his former Phoenix team mates.

“The travel can take it out of you so being in Munich really helps this time. It’s good to see the Phoenix guys and all the other boys again. It’s pretty special to be in this environment because Germany is a long way from home and all my friends and family,” he says.

Many of his All Whites team mates are of the fresh-faced variety with Hay naming seven uncapped players in his first squad. But there is still a strong core of experience and Singh is excited by that promising blend.

“The players coming through are very good now, technically and tactically. It’s a new-look team and there are a lot of young players but I think it’s so important that we’ve got the experienced players in and around us to help us because they’ve been here for years and represented their country many times,” he says.

“They know what it takes to win games and be top professionals so to have that balance is hugely important for us. The older players will give us a lot and I think there’s a perfect balance within the team.”

The All Whites will take on the Republic of Ireland on Friday morning from 8.45am (NZT) with coverage live on Sky Sport.

All Whites squad for international friendlies (club, caps/goals)

Goalkeepers
Stefan Marinovic (Wellington Phoenix, 24/0)
Michael Woud (Willem II, Netherlands, 1/0)

Defenders
Michael Boxall (Minnesota United, USA, 32/0)
Liberato Cacace (Wellington Phoenix, 2/0)
James McGarry (Willem II, Netherlands, 0/0)
Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix, 18/2)
Nando Pijnaker (Torslanda IK, Sweden, 0/0)
Winston Reid (West Ham United, England, 24/1)
Storm Roux (Melbourne Victory, Australia, 9/0)
Tommy Smith (Colorado Rapids, USA, 36/2)
Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers, USA, 24/0)

Midfielders
Joe Bell (University of Virginia, USA, 0/0)
Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners, Australia, 53/5)
Matt Ridenton (Newcastle Jets, Australia, 5/0)
Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, 6/0)
Sarpreet Singh (Bayern Munich, Germany, 4/1)
Ryan Thomas (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands, 18/3)

Forwards
Elliot Collier (Chicago Fire (on loan to Memphis 901), 0/0)
Andre de Jong (Amazulu, South Africa, 2/1)
Elijah Just (Helsingör, Denmark, 0/0)
Max Mata (Grasshopper Club Zürich, Switzerland (on loan to Nõmme Kalju, Estonia), 0/0)
Callum McCowatt (Wellington Phoenix, 0/0)
Marco Rojas (SønderjyskE, Denmark, 41/5)
Chris Wood (Burnley, England, 56/24)

Match Details

vs Republic of Ireland
Thursday 14 November, 7.45pm (Friday 15 November, 8.45am NZT)
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Live on Sky Sport

vs Lithuania
Sunday 17 November, 4pm (Monday 18 November, 3am NZT)
Lithuania National Stadium, Vilnius
Live on Sky Sport

Article added: Wednesday 13 November 2019