The England-raised leftback comes in for Tony Lochhead and will have to adapt quickly, slotting into a rejigged back line ravaged by the loss of three defenders to World Cup qualifiers.

After watching good mate Louis Fenton’s goal-scoring heroics in the comfortable 2-0 win over Sydney FC last weekend, the 20-year-old is hoping to build his own case for regular first team action.

Rowe was part of the Birmingham City youth system from the age of 13 to 19 and is the latest star-in-waiting plucked from the Kiwi club’s footballing school of excellence by head coach Ricki Herbert.

“We’re so pleased for Louis because we know how much he deserves it,” Rowe said in his strong west-midlands accent.

“Hopefully a couple of the new lads can come to the fore now and show what we’re made of.

“There are three players gone out of our back four this week so there’s a big opportunity for those coming in to keep the momentum going see if we can keep a clean sheet.”

As many as seven players will be missing from the squad that defeated the Sky Blues, with up to four debutants expected to be brought into the starting line-up for Sunday’s clash against Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park.

But Rowe said the logistics of the player reshuffle had been prepared well in advance.

“We’ve been planning for this game all through pre-season because we’ve known the All Whites are going away,” he said.

“(Herbert) just said how good the performance was against Sydney but now we have put that at the back of our heads, especially for the guys playing this week, concentrate on Melbourne and make sure we do a job over there and get the best possible result we can.

“He puts a lot of faith in the young guys and lets us know how we’re doing and those areas he thinks we need to improve on.

“It’s going to be a tough game but all the lads are looking forward to the challenge. For a lot of us it’s a chance to impress the coaching staff and show why we deserve a spot on the team.”

Rowe, who has an English mother and New Zealand father, moved to Wellington just over a year ago to increase his chances of securing a professional club contact.

The Junior All White travelled with Phoenix on their pre-season tour of India but rates his upcoming A-League debut among the highlights of his career to date.

“I think this could be pretty close to the top if not the top,” he said. “It’s so exciting not just for me but for my family and friends who know me and understand how much I really want it.

“Personally I’ve waited a long time to make my professional debut and I’m just looking forward to playing and trying to impress.”

It could have turned out all so differently had he ever stopped for a moment to listen to the pleas from his rugby playing father.

“There was a bit of an argument when me and my brother were younger,” Rowe said.

“We wanted to play football and my Dad wanted us to play rugby. Now I’d say he’s probably the biggest football fan in the family.”