Wellington - New Zealand assistant coach Brian Turner expressed confidence Monday that skipper Ryan Nelsen would be fit to lead the side against Bahrain in the first leg of a 2010 World Cup playoff in Manama on Saturday. Nelsen, 31, who captains English side Blackburn Rovers, missed his team's 6-2 drubbing by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday with a back injury suffered against Aston Villa last week.
But Turner said the veteran captain was determined to regain his fitness to start in what is New Zealand's most important match since qualifying for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
"Our physio Roland Jeffery spoke to Ryan overnight and while he couldn't take part against Arsenal, he's having treatment and we are confident he'll be right to play against Bahrain," Turner said.
The New Zealand squad, known at home as the All Whites, are due to assemble in Dubai on Tuesday and will be based there until flying to Bahrain on the eve of the match.
Turner said Nelsen was expected to miss the first few training sessions and his progress would be closely monitored by team doctors.
Missing the game would be a bitter blow for Nelsen and his country. A veteran of 39 caps since making his international debut 10 years ago, the central defender missed the last Confederations Cup campaign in South Africa with a torn calf muscle.
