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.

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

It took some time to work his way back into things after his injury layoff, but Winston Reid finally returned to the starting lineup this weekend. He got the gig next to James Tompkins, and in place of James Collins. Sadly, things didn’t quite go to plan after that. Sure, Andy Carroll gave the Hammers an early lead. Only opponents Stoke City have a bit more to play for with the shadow of relegation still looming, and they came back strongly to run away with a 3-1 win in a typically physical match. Reid’s performance was probably under par. He didn’t really get the opportunities to assert himself in the air or on the ground, getting turned around as Stoke tried to attack at pace on the counter. It’s a good sign that his efforts coming off the bench have been rewarded with the start, and hopefully this means he’s once more a permanent fixture in the West Ham first XI. With the end of the season looming, and the Hammers looking all but safe (can’t speak too soon though…), we may well see a limp to the finish line in form.

Up Next: A deflated Man Utd come to town, Sunday morning 6.30am (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

Quite the week it was for Tommy Smith. Results wise it was a mixed bag, with a win and a loss, though Smithy was involved throughout. We’ll start chronologically with the midweek win over Yeovil. Going forward Ipswich are a little short on weapons, and tend to rely on the pace and creativity of Daryl Murphy especially now that top scorer David McGoldrick is in danger of missing the rest of the season through injury. Maybe you can blame that perceived negativity on the traditionally cagey style of manager Mick McCarthy. This game, however scratchy it got up front, was a clinic in sure-footed, positionally sound defending. Smith and Christophe Berra had arguably their most sound defensive game this season as a centre-back pairing, and it carried forward, with Smith setting up Berra for the only goal in a 1-0 victory. From Hunt’s left sided corner, Smith’s near post run created the space for a dangerously flicked on header, which was headed narrowly wide of the post when Berra intercepted it for a simple right footed finish. For the rest of it, Smith made 3 tackles, giving away just a single foul and dominated in the air. His distribution was particularly good too. He could easily have grabbed a goal himself from Stephen Hunt’s well placed corners, though 1 goal was all it took in the end, despite some close chances and good saves at both ends.

The second game of the week started great for Ipswich, and Tommy especially. Continuing his midweek form and set-piece presence, Smith was able to make a nuisance of himself in the box, finishing off a goal mouth scramble with a nice turning volley to give Ipswich the early lead. It was Smith’s fourth league goal this year. Sadly from there on it was the defending FA Cup champs that made it count. James McClean was able to cut inside unchecked from the left wing for an equaliser almost immediately, then Jordi Gomez’s pinpoint free kick gave Barnett a sitter of a header and McClean topped things off with a 77th minute sealer. Smith wasn’t able to have the same effect against the speedy forwards of Wigan that he did against Yeovil Town, and Ipswich drop to 6 points off a playoff spot with 10 games remaining in their season.

Up Next: Brighton away, 4am Sunday (NZT)

Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Championship)

Two games for Leicester this past week, although Woody only got on the park for one of them. He was a 65th minute sub as the Foxes pummelled relegation bound Barnsley 3-0 away, coming on for Dave Nugent just after the final goal was scored. Wood put himself around a bit as he usually does, though the game was well and truly settled by the time he first got his foot on the ball. Then on the weekend it was a case of singing the same old song. The Foxes ran away with a 3-1 win at home to Blackpool, extending their lead over second place Burnley to 7 points with a game in hand, and putting them a whopping 17 points clear of non-automatic promotion. Wood was overlooked in favour of poor Kevin Phillips (formerly of Bolton), who had been a non-used sub for the past couple games, and Phillips bagged himself a goal for his patience.

Up Next: It’s off to Blackburn on Sunday, 4am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

Another 90 minutes for the All Whites left winger, who is fast becoming a regular for Zwolle. This wasn’t his best game of the season, but it was another solid one, and his team managed to come out of it with a much needed 2-0 home win, putting them back in position for a Europa League playoff and halting a 5 match run without a win. Thomas was assured in possession, managing a couple of shots, one blocked and one put past the right hand post. Plus he’s the kind of player who gets back and helps out his fullback, winning back possession on four separate occasions. The Dutch league is pretty strong, so this is all great experience for the youngster, who has said he’d love to pursue his career in England or one of the other top leagues in Europe in due time. Personally I just can’t wait to see this guy playing for the All Whites again!

Up Next: Away to AZ Alkmaar on Monday 2.30am (NZT)

Ryan Nelsen - Toronto FC (US Major League Soccer)

And finally, a great big Nichey welcome into Flying Kiwis to the flying-est kiwi that ever flew (since Rufer at least), Mr Ryan ‘Top Dog’ Nelsen, manager of Toronto FC! It’s been a big offseason for Ryan Nelsen. Having taken over the reins last year, Toronto spluttered their way to a second to last placed finish in their Eastern Conference (only Nelsen’s old team DC United were worse). So the emphasis of the past few months has been bringing in talent to bolster this squad. Well they’ve certainly done that. Former Spurs teammate Jermaine Defoe has made the trip across the Atlantic, along with US international Michael Bradley and Canadian hero Dwayne De Rosario. Should be plenty of goals forthcoming – in the very least it’s an improvement over Jeremy Brockie, who played 15 total games on loan from the Nix there last season, scoring a single goal. Toronto didn’t play last week, but got their season underway on Sunday, with new boy Defoe bagging a double in a 2-1 win in Seattle (Clint Dempsey pulled one back for the hosts), giving Nelsen just the start he needed given the pressure he’ll be under after underachieving last year and spending all that money this year. Toronto didn’t quite gel, wasting a few chances, and a lot of possession, but there was some typically Nelsenian aggression on defence, and they came away with a deserved win, Michael Bradley awarded the man of the match.

Elsewhere in the MLS, Nelsen will no doubt be keeping an eye out on former teammate and the only kiwi currently playing for a Major League side (GK Jake Gleeson is out on loan in the lower leagues from Portland), none other than Tony Lochhead of Chivas. He’s played 90 mins in each of his team’s matches (an opening win and a draw), and despite looking thoroughly out of his depth the past couple years in the A-League, he’s acquitted himself well in the US. Maybe it’s the weather?

Up Next: Toronto FC host the side Nelsen was twice named in the MLS Best XI while playing with back in ought-three and four, DC United. That game is 9.30am on Sunday (NZT)