Soccer: Injury scare for Nelsen

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen suffered a knee injury playing for Blackburn this morning. Photo / Mark Mitchell

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has suffered a suspected serious knee injury less than four months out from the World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Nelsen, who captains Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, landed heavily after challenging for the ball in the first half of his side's 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers this morning (NZT).

The All Whites' central defender returned to action briefly after treatment but was unable to continue and was replaced just before the break.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is waiting to find out the full extent of the injury and is praying the problem does not sideline his skipper for a lengthy period.

"Having only looked at it on the replay I'm hoping that he's twisted his ankle and not his knee," Allardyce told the club's official website.

"But he was holding his knee which was the big problem for me.

"I think it is his one where he's had surgery before, so it'll be 48 hours before we can tell and we'll keep our fingers crossed, not just for us but for him."

If Nelsen has torn his cruciate ligaments he would likely miss the World Cup finals in South Africa.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB