KEY POINTS:
Ryan Nelsen's long-awaited return to the All Whites has hit another snag with the defender in serious doubt for New Zealand's tour of Costa Rica and Venezuela.
The 29-year-old last pulled on an All Whites jersey at the ill-fated 2004 Oceania Nations Cup in Adelaide, where New Zealand
were upset 4-2 by Vanuatu.
A hamstring injury saw him miss games against Blackburn and Brazil last year, while other All Whites fixtures had fallen outside of Fifa windows.
Nelsen had been selected to join Ricki Herbert's side in South America this week, but that is now unlikely after he limped out of Blackburn's FA Cup quarter-final win over Manchester City on Monday morning (NZT).
He didn't reappear for the second half of that match, which Blackburn won 2-0, because of a scar tissue problem from the hamstring injury that saw him miss the first half of this season's English Premiership.
"I've had a problem with a bit of scar tissue, but it's nothing major at all," Nelsen told Blackburn media. "There's just a bit of fluid there. Everything with the previous injury is fine, it's just a bit of scar tissue which is causing discomfort."
Nelsen had hoped to recover in time for the All Whites' tour but Blackburn boss Mark Hughes doesn't expect him to be available until Blackburn's visit to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on April 1.
It will be another blow to Herbert's plans after he lost midfielder Simon Elliott, who hasn't recovered from his long-term Achilles injury, and Vaughan Coveny to retirement.
Although he has cover with skipper Danny Hay and Che Bunce, both experienced international defenders, he had hoped to integrate Nelsen and Elliott into the side after long absences.
Their presence would also have been significant against opposition ranked higher than the All Whites - although they climbed four places on the latest list to 129. Costa Rica are ranked 50th and Venezuela 74th.
Herbert is yet to field his strongest side in his two-year tenure but in 2007 is looking to take advantage of the Fifa windows, when clubs must release all players. He isn't expected to name any replacements and will travel to South America with 18 players.
Hughes has told New Zealand Soccer Nelsen will be available for games against Wales (May 26) and Ukraine (June 6) ahead of the All Whites' World Cup qualifying campaign starting in October.