Defender Tony Lochhead has also been named in an initial squad which includes nine players who have played at full international level for the All Whites.

Smeltz enjoyed a tremendous first season in the A-League although his impressive haul of goals wasn’t enough to prevent the Phoenix picking up the wooden spoon.

Lochhead also made a positive impression, especially when pushing forward from left back, although he was later required to perform a more central role in a leaky defence.

However, neither is guaranteed a spot on the plane just yet with three other players also on the over-age list and have the advantage of playing top flight domestic football in England and Scotland respectively.

Celtic’s Chris Killen, Fulham’s Simon Elliot and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelson are also included in coach Stu Jacobs’ 25-man squad. That means two of the five ‘senior’ players will have to drop out.

The squad is expected to be reduced to 18 players shortly before the squad departs for Beijing in August.

Coach Jacobs told the New Zealand Herald: “The experience Ryan, Simon and Chris have from playing in their premierships is a huge bonus. But we need to provide cover so we can still take our full quota if any players are unavailable."

New Zealand have been drawn in group three to play China, Brazil and Belgium at the Olympics.

The squad boasts a healthy Phoenix (and ex Phoenix) flavour with Costa Barbarouses, Greg Draper, goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley and defender Steven Old also included in the squad. Sunderland defender Jack Pelter and ex Knights and Sydney FC man Jeremy Brockie are also among the 25 named.

No decision has been made on who would captain the squad. Jacobs said: “We will make a decision on that further down the track. Obviously, if Ryan Nelsen does play we would have to consider him.”