Tim Brown's World Cup dream remains alive after he was given the go-ahead to join his New Zealand team-mates in South Africa having made good progress in his recovery from a fractured shoulder.

The 29-year-old All Whites vice-captain, who suffered the injury during New Zealand's friendly against Australia, underwent surgery to insert three screws into his damaged right shoulder two weeks ago.

The recovery time was expected to be six weeks but such has been Brown's determination to get fit for football's showpiece event that his rehabilitation is three weeks ahead of schedule and he is set to depart New Zealand on Thursday.