New Zealand's Thomas hopes long road back from injury leads to World Cup

March 26 : For years, New Zealand midfielder Ryan Thomas wondered if his international career had slipped away somewhere between operating tables and endless rehab sessions.

Now, after a series of knee injuries and aborted comebacks, the Netherlands-based footballer is cautiously optimistic his body will hold up for long enough to take him to the game's biggest stage at the World Cup.

The PEC Zwolle captain's perseverance and good form in the Dutch top flight were rewarded when Darren Bazeley recalled him to the All Whites squad last August, nearly six years after his last appearance in a friendly against Ireland.

It signalled a remarkable vote of confidence in a player who was written off repeatedly due to his breakdowns and long absences from the pitch.

Thomas said Bazeley's patience had helped him navigate the bleak periods when sidelined with injury or battling to build momentum at club level.

"There was a long time where I feared my international career was done," he told Reuters.

"I had some calls with Baze and he wanted to let me know the door was always open. I was always really grateful for those calls with them.

"I didn't expect I would be able to come back to the national team. And now that I'm able to be back and amongst these boys and playing these games, it's brilliant."

Thomas has returned to his home nation for friendlies against Finland and Chile, New Zealand's last warmups on home soil before the June 11-July 19 World Cup in North America, the nation's first appearance at the finals since 2010.

The road back to the All Whites has not been entirely smooth, with Thomas missing friendlies against Ecuador and Colombia in the United States during the last international window in November while under an injury cloud.