KEY POINTS:
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is heartened by reports of Ryan Nelsen's encouraging return from injury in Blackburn Rovers' 4-0 FA Cup defeat of Luton Town.
Central defender Nelsen was handed the captain's armband for the fourth-round tie against the Championship strugglers and received a glowing endorsement from Blackburn manager Mark Hughes after being substituted with 20 minutes remaining.
The match was Nelsen's first in nine months following a hamstring injury that required surgery from a specialist in Finland.
Nelsen's return puts him in the frame for New Zealand's first internationals of 2007 in Costa Rica and Venezuela on March 24 and 28 respectively.
Herbert will name his 20-man squad for the trip in two weeks and Nelsen is likely to be included after last playing for the All Whites against Fiji in the ill-fated Oceania Nations Cup campaign in Adelaide in 2004.
"It's great to see him back playing and nobody will be more pleased than Ryan himself because it's been a difficult period to go through," Herbert said, following Nelsen's first game since Blackburn's 2005-06 season-ending premiership win at Charlton Athletic on April 29 last year.
"It could be great timing with the upcoming tour. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to play for New Zealand for the last two years for a number of reasons but everybody would be delighted to see him back on the All Whites' starting sheet.
"It's hugely important to get Ryan back into the programme ahead of the Oceania World Cup qualifiers in October-November."
Nelsen's comeback was also timely for Hughes after Blackburn lost Robbie Savage and Andre Ooijer to broken legs last week.
Hughes agreed it was as if Nelsen had never been away. "I think it was a great game for him, it was excellent that we've been able to get him back.
"It is no reflection on the guys who have played in his position ... but he's back, he is fit and well and he looked in great shape today."
- NZPA