Tommy Smith watches on as team-mate Christophe Berra battles with Boro's Danny Graham

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.

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

He didn’t play for the All Whites this week in order to stay available for Ipswich as they battle for a shot at promotion, not that it helped them too much. Ipswich lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough blowing a great chance to force their way closer to a playoff spot. Smith played 90 minutes as he always does, making a number of tackles, but he and his team had no answer for Danny Graham (former Swansea striker, now on loan from Sunderland) who pegged a double and it didn’t help when keeper Dean Gerken spilt the ball at Graham’s feet for the opener. It was a close game by performances and a missed opportunity for the Trotters, who’ll be hoping for better with two games coming up this week and just 4 points between them and 6th place.

Up Next: Away to Yeovil Town Wednesday and home to FA Cup heroes Wigan early Sunday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

Another start for Ryan Thomas after the young winger made his All Whites debut midweek. Thomas was very impressive against Japan, showing good skill on the ball, but above that, great positioning and knowledge of the game. All very promising from such a young player. Zwolle actually got pummelled in this game, losing 3-0. They’re not quite in the race for Europe, and they’re fairly well clear of relegation, so it may be a matter of mid-table malaise ‘till the end of the year - which could mean more chances for Thomas to impress and develop. His 84 minutes here (against Heerenveen – who are coached by Dutch legend Marco Van Basten) were a standard mix of clever, short passing and strong defensive contributions, though it wasn’t a game where the 19 year old could thrive, not when playing from behind. They created chances, they just weren’t able to convert any. Thomas didn’t manage any shots personally, and had just one cross (crossing and wide play aren’t really the first option of attack for Zwolle). Zwolle haven’t won for 5 games now, but Ryan Thomas has started in 3 of the last 4. He’s slowly becoming a regular…

Up Next: PEC Zwolle host the curiously named Go Ahead Eagles early next Monday (NZT)

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League) & Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Championship)

No games for either of these lads this weekend, due to FA Cup postponements. West Ham are still sitting comfortably in 10th place, while Leicester remain untouchable at the top of the Championship. The weekend off will be valuable for each of them, as Reid is more or less at 100% fitness once more and looking to earn his starting place back, while Woody bagged a double against Japan for NZ and will be full of confidence, albeit pretty tired I’m sure.

Up Next: West Ham head off to Stoke next Sunday morning, while LCFC have a double gameweek, first up at Barnsley Wed morn, then home to Blackpool Sunday morn (all NZT).