AUCKLAND – Injury has robbed the All Whites of their captain Ryan Nelson just a week before they depart for their third FIFA Confederations Cup campaign.

Nelsen limped out of Blackburn’s penultimate Premiership match against Chelsea on Saturday with a calf injury and scans have since revealed a 4cm grade two soleus muscle tear that will rule the 31-year-old out for four to six weeks.

Missing a campaign that included cup clashes against Spain, South Africa and Iraq, as well as a warm up against World champions Italy was another cruel twist in an injury blighted international career for Nelsen.

The star defender ended a frustrating four-year absence from the All Whites against New Caledonia last year and was now “absolutely gutted” he couldn’t lead the team out on its return to the world stage.

“I was really looking forward to playing. The Confederations Cup is great preparation for the World Cup playoff and I’m just gutted I wont be there now.”

A long season that began with the Olympic Games in August finally took its toll on the Cantabrian. 

“It is so frustrating.  I’ve felt really good this year and I think including internationals I have played close to 50 games this season. The body has been feeling really great but I suppose it was a heavy load and maybe it was God’s way of telling me I needed a break.”

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert admitted losing his captain and best player ahead of a major international tournament was “a massive blow.”

“I think the confidence, leadership, competiveness and experience that Ryan has against players of the calibre we are going to play is going to be missing now and that is going to be a massive loss for the team,” Herbert said.

“I guess now our fingers are crossed that we face no difficulties in October.” 

The loss of Nelsen, combined with the fact that Ben Sigmund is still working his way back to full fitness after off-season hip surgery, leaves Andy Boyens and Steven Old as the only match-ready central defenders in the 23-man Confederations Cup squad.

Herbert and assistant coach Brian Turner were now mulling options to add defensive cover and hoped to name Nelsen’s replacement on Friday.

The New Zealand based squad members depart for their pre-tournament base in Botswana on May 27.

The All Whites play friendlies against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone on June 6 before moving to South Africa ahead of their final warm up against Italy in Pretoria on June 10. New Zealand begins its Confederations Cup campaign against Spain on June 14 in Rustenburg.

Story courtesy of NZF Media

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