Soccer: A game of two sides for Nelsen

Ryan Nelsen is in line to play half a game for his club and half a game for his country after it was confirmed this week the All Whites will play Blackburn in August.

Ricki Herbert's side will take on Nelsen's Blackburn at Ewood Park on August 12, seven days before the new Premiership season starts.

"Their suggestion [from Blackburn manager Mark Hughes] would be that Ryan plays a half for each," New Zealand Soccer (NZS) chief executive Graham Seatter explained. "I think that would help promote the fixture."

The confirmation of the Blackburn game comes on the back of the Charlton fixture, also to be played in August, and Seatter is confident of adding as many as two more games against Premiership sides into the All Whites' diary. They are currently in talks with Simon Elliott's Fulham and are also hopeful of tying up a game with Premiership-bound Reading. A possible match against Crystal Palace has fallen through.

The prospects of securing two international fixtures in the lead-up to the glamour friendly with Brazil in Geneva on June 4 are not looking quite so healthy, however.

NZS have set aside two dates at the end of May to play international friendlies and, while they've given up hope of playing against World Cup-bound nations, it's also proving difficult to find other countries interested in a game.

"It's surprised me because I would have thought it would be a great opportunity because everyone has their players available," Seatter said. "The fallback is to play a couple of club sides but we would rather not. We would like to play national teams."

Nelsen has already indicated he's unavailable to play in Chile next month but will play against Brazil.

Another who could join the squad at this time is young defender Winston Reid, currently playing in the Danish first division. Herbert has heard from Reid, who indicated he hadn't decided between playing for New Zealand or Denmark, where he has spent the last five years, but was interested in training with the All Whites while they're in Europe.

* Former Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich has said he would be "tempted" by the prospect of coaching Auckland City in next season's NZFC.

Auckland boss Allan Jones has said he's stepping down at the end of the current season to take up a likely position as coach of the New Zealand women's side.

Milicich is one potential candidate to take over from Jones, along with the likes of Manawatu coach Colin Tuua, Auckland board member and coach Paul Marshall and United Soccer 1 director of coaching Keith Pritchett.

Milicich stepped down from Waitakere after last season citing family reasons but said the time could be right to return to football coaching.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY