Image: Stephen Pond/PA via The Guardian UK

Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.

Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Championship)

Wood has faded away within the Leicester City squad recently, not in the least due to striker Jamie Vardy’s return to form. The Foxes won 2-1 against Blackburn midweek, which put them briefly on top of the Championship table. Wood was an 80th minute sub in that one, but he wasn’t even on the bench as Leicester drew with Blackpool on the weekend. Two goals in 3 minutes looked to have it sealed for Leicester but a very, very late penalty from Tom “Paul’s Boy” Ince saved a point for Blackpool. Wood’s spot as third striker may have been eclipsed by new free agent signing Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who made his debut off the bench against the team he played 215 league games for in this game. Fletcher-Taylor plays more as a supporting forward or a winger though, where as Wood is a target-man type. Manager Nigel Pearson said afterwards that Wood was nursing an injury, which is why he missed the game. Wood will hopefully get a go in the League Cup tomorrow, a competition he scored a hat-trick in last round, though fitness will be the issue.

Up Next: League Cup third round vs Derby Wednesday morn; Championship matchup vs Barnsley Sunday morn (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

Ipswich had a double gameweek also. The Tractor Boys dominated Yeovil Town midweek, and came away with a solid 2-1 win, despite falling behind against the run of the play. Tommy Smith played his obligatory 90 mins. They weren’t so happy with their weekend efforts though. Ipswich travelled to Wigan, where they were picked apart by on loan Man Utd midfielder Nick Powell, who set up one and scored another for a man of the match effort in the 2-0 win. Smith played 90 mins, as he has done in every Ipswich game this season.

Up Next: Ipswich Town host Brighton & Hove Albion Sunday morning 3am (NZT)

Marco Rojas – VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)

No third consecutive win for Stuttgart, and no Rojas either. Stuttgart fell behind to Eintracht Frankfurt after quarter of an hour, but hit back almost immediately through Timo Werner. Forward Vedad Ibisevic had a bit of a shocker - he had one goal disallowed for offside and missed an injury time penalty that would have given Stuttgart the win. 1-1 final score. Rojas is still out with his foot injury.

Up Next: A German Cup tie at SC Freiburg Thursday morning 6.30am and a trip to Eintracht Braunschweig Monday 4.30am (NZT)

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

With only 3 goals scored in total in West Ham’s first 4 premier league games, it’s fair to say this result was unexpected. The Hammers fell 3-2 to Everton, largely thanks to England fullback Leighton Baines’ set piece prowess. A disappointing result, but at least they found the score sheet a couple times, taking the lead twice thanks to Ravel Morrison and a Mark Noble penalty. Reid played 90 mins at the heart of the defence as usual. Noble was sent off for a second booking (Baines scored from the free kick) which Sam Allardyce was notable unhappy with. Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku scored the late winner a couple minutes after. West Ham has 5 points from 5 games.

Up Next: A Wednesday morning League Cup tie vs Cardiff (which will be Fat Sam’s 100th in charge of The Hammers) and then Sunday morning 3am away to Hull City (NZT)