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)

Nothing happening for Winnie this week. The Hammers game against Arsenal was postponed until Wednesday morning due to the Gunners playing (and winning - just) their FA Cup Semi Final against Wigan. Given results at the bottom of the EPL table, West Ham still aren’t quite safe even at 11th place with 5 games to play. Arsenal are in even more danger of missing their minimum acceptable finish, so there will be a lot on the line in this game. Reid has been mentioned in transfer rumours to Arsenal too, as if it all wasn’t enough already. West Ham are 7 points clear of relegation and given the congestion at that end of the table, one more win should seal another year of Premier League footy, but until they bag those 3 points it’s all on. They play Crystal Palace in a more conceivably winnable game next weekend. Expect Winston Reid to play both.

Up Next: Arsenal at Upton Park, 6.45am Wednesday (NZT)

Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Championship)

After bagging promotion to the Premier League last week, LCFC came up against a Brighton team midweek still with plenty to play for, and were caught in the midst of a throbbing hangover. All the sports drink and greasy food in the world wasn’t gonna cure this one, and the Foxes’ 21 game unbeaten streak in the Championship came to a screeching halt. Gary Taylor-Fletcher added a late consolation, but 4-1 was the final score. Brighton also beat Leicester earlier in the season by a scoreline of 3-1 – the last team to beat them before the big streak - making them the only team to do the double over the Championship favourites this campaign (supposing they hold off Doncaster in the final game). Leonardo Ulloa grabbed a double for the visitors, after goals from Stephen Ward and on loan Manchester United player Jesse Lingard. Chris Wood didn’t start this one, but was brought on as a part of a double substitution at half time. Nigel Pearson obviously hoped that Wood could spark something after a lifeless opening and he almost did, managing to hit the post, though soon after Brighton added a third and it was all too much to overcome. Luckily Burley lost on the weekend so the difference between first and second is still 6 points, with a game in hand for Chris Wood and co. That game is Tuesday morning at Reading, where Leicester could do a huge favour to Tommy Smith’s Ipswich by taking points off the home team.

Up Next: Away to Reading - 7.07am Tuesday morning (Very specific NZT)

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

Talk about having results go your way. First Ipswich did the business over Huddersfield 2-0 away from home, a pair of first half goals being the difference – along with some great defending from Mick McCarthy’s boys, Tommy Smith most definitely included. Smith’s partnership at centre back with Cristophe Berra has been one of the best in the Championship this season. That was midweek, and on Sunday morning they bounced back against Doncaster Rovers despite giving up an 83rd minute penalty for the equaliser only to score a winner just a few minutes later. Smith wasn’t at his best in this game, not being involved all that much, which I guess is a good thing. Despite a decent chunk of possession, Doncaster didn’t create all that many great chances, and had Ipswich been more clinical with their 17 shots (to Rovers’ 6), then the game would have been out of reach by the time left back Tyrone Mings brought down his man in the box. In fairness to Mings, the young fullback also set up the first goal. With Reading, Bournemouth and Blackburn all dropping points, the results mean Ipswich surge up to 7th place, just a four goal differential behind Brighton, although having played an extra game. With a month to go before the playoffs, there is a massive struggle for the final two spots and it looks like heading down to the wire.

Up Next: Next Sunday 2am at Watford (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

It looks like Ryan Thomas is really starting to get a run of games in the first team now. He was once again in the 11 for their latest – a 1-1 draw against Waalwijk. Thomas seemed lively in the opening half, almost scoring the first goal when he rattled the crossbar with a shot just before the break. He was subbed off at half time, so hopefully that was just an injury precaution. In the end, PEC Zwolle needed a 66th minute equaliser for a point, but it was a point well-earned against a desperate opponent, and one they’ll gladly take. Europa League qualification is already sealed with their cup final tie against Ajax to be played next week. In the club’s 104 year history, they have only twice before made the Dutch Cup final, and lost each time (1928 & 1977), so it’s fair to say that this game is pretty important…

Up Next: Ajax, KNVB Cup Final, 4am Monday 21st (NZT)

Marco Rojas – VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)

He’s on his way back! Marco Rojas again played for the Stuttgart Seconds, this time coming off the bench after 68 minutes. It was a poor result – a 3-0 loss to Osnabruck – but at least he’s finally back and playing! This after 45 minutes last week for Stuttgart II. The Bundesliga Third Division is still a decent step up from the A-League, or in the least it’s a very different style of football to get used to. So Rojas has both fitness and form to play for. His biggest problem is that the Stuttgart first team are only 1 point above a relegation playoff position, and then only that thanks to a big 1-1 draw with Europa League candidates Borussia M.Gladbach on Sunday. Fair to say with their struggles, the first team will have their eye on the former A-League Player of the Year if he can prove he’s up to the task. So far the more physical nature of German football has been a slow acquisition for Rojas. Give it time, though.   

Up Next: The Seconds host Unterhaching, the Firsts host Schalke on Sunday & Monday respectively (NZT)

Ryan Nelsen – Toronto FC (US Major League Soccer)

The mixed results continue for manager Ryan Nelsen. They lost 1-0 at home to Colorado. It was always gonna be tougher than expected though, given Jermaine Defoe was still sitting on the physio’s table, and their best player, Michael Bradley, pulled up lame after serving some international duty. Add to that a few other lingering injuries and there’s a bit of a crisis going on. Still, they would have hoped for better, and they missed the chance to move into first in the Eastern Conference after 5 games. Edson Buddle’s 77th min winner was the difference on the day in a close game which could have swung either way. Kyle Bekker twice saw shots cannon off the frame for the home team. Nelsen himself is no stranger to injuries, so here’s hoping he can weather this storm.

Aaand, word is Tony Lochhead is close to a return from his hamstring injury for Chivas USA, and injury which has caused him to miss the last couple of games. They drew without him most recently, and are 5 games without a victory.

Up Next: Off to Texas to play FC Dallas at 12.30pm Sunday arvo (NZT)