RYAN Nelsen insists he won’t let his New Zealand career affect his form for Blackburn Rovers – but admits he isn’t ready to walk away from the All Whites just yet.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce urged the Kiwi skipper to quit international football last month to prolong his days in the Premier League, with Nelsen admitting there may come a point when he has to seriously consider it.
The 33-year-old defender captained his country to an historic unbeaten World Cup finals campaign in South Africa last summer, including a draw with Italy, and Allardyce suggested he should ‘bow out at the top’.
Nelsen sympathises with his manager’s view, especially after seeing Brett Emerton pick up an injury while away with Australia, but doesn’t believe the time has come to hang up his international boots just yet.
Ryan Nelsen
He said: “I’d just like to finish it on my terms and when I feel that’s being detrimental to Blackburn or vice versa, then I think it will be time to call it quits.
“But at the moment I feel really good, my body feels good and I feel fit. I’m still motivated to play so at the moment the time’s not right. Maybe in six months, a year, two years, I don’t know, that could be completely different.
“I try to keep as fit as I can because I’m not getting any younger but once that starts coming, anything detrimental to Blackburn or to New Zealand, I’ll call it quits.”
Nelsen arrived at Rovers from the United States in 2005 on a free transfer and has been a mainstay in the heart of the defence ever since.
Ryan Nelsen
He has combined that with playing a key role in New Zealand’s impressive rise up the international football ladder, but now faces increasing competition at club level for his place.
Youngsters Phil Jones and Grant Hanley are expected to challenge for a defensive role in the near future and with Gael Givet also more than capable in a more central position, Nelsen accepts his place is constantly under pressure.
He said: “That’s Sam’s decision. Obviously he has to figure out what’s best for Blackburn and I 100 per cent agree with him.
“If he feels that, that’s something I have to live with.”
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Ryan Nelsen has urged Blackburn’s supporters to trust the club’s owners when it comes to transfer policy.
Venky’s have come in for criticism over the summer for a perceived lack of ambition.
They have failed to produce the funds expected, leaving manager Steve Kean with his hands tied.
There is, however, still plenty of time left in the summer window and Rovers are doing their utmost to identify targets.
With that in mind, Nelsen believes the fans should refrain from making sweeping judgements.
Asked if he expected the club to bring in new recruits, the New Zealand international told Sky Sports News: “Of course, but there is no panic. Just because you have money, it doesn’t mean you have to splash it out stupidly.
“The owners and the manager are intelligent people and they will buy when it is the right time to buy. They aren’t going to splash it for the sake of splashing it.
“For the fans, patience is going to have to be had and they will have to trust that the owners have Blackburn in their hearts and only see a bright future for the club.”
Rovers are also determined to keep their prize assets at Ewood Park, with the likes of Chris Samba having drawn admiring glances from afar.
Nelsen is confident his centre-half partner will remain at the club, with his penning of a long-term contract last season underlining his commitment to the cause.
“He has been a fantastic purchase for us,” said Nelsen.
“He is a great guy and he’s just signed a five-year deal, so he sees his future at Blackburn.
“Papers talk about clubs coming in and it just becomes gossip. From what I know, Chris has signed a five-year deal, he has talked to the owners and he’s excited to be at the club.”
Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen has been ruled for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Rovers manager Steve Kean has said.
With Rovers only three points above the relegation zone heading into Saturday’s trip to Everton, Kean can ill afford such setbacks, but he cited the return of youngster Phil Jones from his own knee injury as a saving grace.
“Fortunately for us we lose Ryan at a time when Phil Jones is back fully fit,” added the manager on http://www.rovers.co.uk.
“He’s slotted back in there and looked like he’d never been away from central defence, so that is fantastic for us, but it is unfortunate that we lose Nelly.”