Soccer: Nelsen in doubt for friendly

Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Tottenham Hotspur's impending grudge match against Arsenal is one of the factors putting Ryan Nelsen in doubt for next week's All Whites friendly against Jamaica.

Spurs have yet to sign off Nelsen's leave for the match at Mt Smart Stadium next Wednesday despite it being in the FIFA window.

NZ Football boss Grant McKavanagh said he was in regular contact with the All Whites' skipper, who was keen to play, but he had to balance his club duties, and looming large among those was the Premier League match against north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

To compound matters, Tottenham's league match following the Jamaica game is against title contenders Manchester United.

"We're reviewing it day by day," McKavanagh said of Nelsen's involvement. "Ryan's desire is to be here, there's no doubt about that. One of the problems is they play against their big London rivals Arsenal on the Sunday, a day later than everyone else. From that point of view there is heat around it for them so we just have to play it by ear.

"Part of the issue has been for him to talk to [Spurs' manager] Harry [Redknapp]. Harry has been busy and that's the challenge really. He wants to make sure his gaffer is happy and that's understandable."

Unfortunately for Nelsen and the All Whites, to say Redknapp has been busy is an understatement. The Spurs' boss was forced to defend himself in court against tax evasion charges, and once that case was thrown out he has quickly found himself in the frame to replace Fabio Capello as England manager after the Italian's sudden resignation.

If Nelsen doesn't play it's likely to affect NZ Football's bottom line as the organisation relies on ticket sales to help cover the costly business of hosting friendlies.

But with 34-year-old Nelsen now recovered from his knee injury and some big games ahead, it is unlikely he or Spurs will want to jeopardise his good start at the club.

Tottenham are still a chance in the league as they sit only seven points behind leaders Manchester City and five points behind United, and are still alive in the FA Cup. Arsenal are 10 points behind Spurs in fourth place.

Nelsen, who joined Spurs from Blackburn on a short-term deal, was impressive in his starting debut in the 0-0 FA Cup fifth-round match against League One side Stevenage.

While the result against the lowly third-tier club was disappointing, it could have been worse but for some timely interventions from Nelsen, according to skipper and fellow defender Michael Dawson.

"I thought Ryan was fantastic," Dawson told Tottenham's official website. "We changed the formation a little, played myself, Younes [Kaboul] and Ryan; he played in the middle and he was outstanding.

"He won everything in the air, was strong and played really well. He showed all his experience in what was a real test for us against a big, physical team."

Tottenham face a replay against Stevenage at White Hart Lane on March 7 in order to make the FA Cup quarter-finals.