Soccer: All Whites lose Nelsen for Confederations Cup

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out of the Confederations Cup with a calf injury. Photo / Getty Images

Injury has robbed the New Zealand soccer team of their captain Ryan Nelsen just a week before they depart for the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

The 31-year-old defender has been sidelined for four to six weeks by a torn calf muscle, an injury sustained during Blackburn's penultimate English premiership match against Chelsea last weekend.

Missing a campaign that includes cup clashes against Spain, South Africa and Iraq, as well as a warm-up game against world champions Italy is another cruel twist in an injury-blighted international career for Nelsen.

He ended a frustrating four-year absence from the All Whites against New Caledonia last year and is now "absolutely gutted" he cannot lead the All Whites out on their return to the world stage.

"I was really looking forward to playing. The Confederations Cup is great preparation for the World Cup playoff and I'm just gutted I won't be there now."

A long season that began with the Olympic Games last August finally took its toll on the Cantabrian.

"It is so frustrating. I've felt really good this year and I think including internationals I have played close to 50 games this season.

"The body has been feeling really great but I suppose it was a heavy load and maybe it was god's way of telling me I needed a break."

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert admitted losing his captain and best player ahead of a major international tournament was a massive blow.

"I think the confidence, leadership, competitiveness and experience that Ryan has against players of the calibre we are going to play is going to be missing now and that is going to be a massive loss for the team," Herbert said.

The loss of Nelsen, combined with the fact that Ben Sigmund is still working his way back to full fitness after off-season hip surgery, leaves Andy Boyens and Steven Old as the only match-ready central defenders in the 23-man Confederations Cup squad.

Herbert and assistant coach Brian Turner are now mulling over their options to add defensive cover and hope to name Nelsen's replacement tomorrow.

The New Zealand-based squad members depart for their pre-tournament base in Botswana on May 27.

The All Whites play "friendlies" against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone on June 6 before moving to South Africa ahead of their final warm-up against Italy in Pretoria on June 10.

New Zealand begins their Confederations Cup campaign against Spain on June 14 in Rustenburg.

- NZPA