Ryan Nelsen will play in this weekend's World Cup qualifier against Bahrain. Photo / Getty Images
The All Whites received a huge boost today with skipper Ryan Nelsen declared fit to face Bahrain in the first leg of their World Cup soccer qualifier in Manama this weekend.
The Blackburn captain missed his club's 6-2 defeat to Arsenal in the English Premier League because of a back
complaint.
However, he took a full part in training in Dubai this morning (NZ time), showing few signs of the injury.
Team medical staff monitoring the central defender's fitness later gave him the all-clear for the match against Bahrain on Sunday morning.
Assistant coach Brian Turner described the news as a big lift given Nelsen's influence within the team.
"His presence on and off the park is immense and it would have been a body blow if he wasn't available," Turner said.
"He's the consummate professional. He has looked after himself and he's 100 per cent fit, so that's a real bonus for us."
Nelsen's availability means coach Ricki Herbert will be able to pick from his full quota of senior players.
Turner said the squad - which has players with professional experience in England, the Netherlands, Scotland, the United States and Australia - had been four years in the making.
"There is a lot of experience," he said.
"In games like this, you need to tap into that experience of playing in big leagues around the world ... "
The return leg is in Wellington on November 14, with the winners of the tie booking a place at the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.
- NZPA
