Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen is relieved to be closing in on a return to first-team action after making a good recovery from a knee ligament injury.

The 32-year-old New Zealand international has not featured for Rovers since late February, but lasted the full 90 minutes of a reserve team clash with Manchester City earlier this week.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph:"It was good to get 90 minutes under the belt on Tuesday night, to have a little run around.

"It has been really good because I have been able to take my time to make sure I was ready, because the team has got themselves safe and everything is looking really good.

"I have made sure it is right and now it is nice and strong. When I first did it I would have bitten someone's hands off to have played 90 minutes now, so I am quite happy.

"Of course, initially I did fear what it meant for the World Cup, that is natural. It was good though because the medical staff kept my nerves a wee bit down, but of course they were a few worrying days.

"Six weeks though and I am looking forward to contributing to Blackburn's end of season and the World Cup."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email