Nelsen Operation A Success

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen has successfully come through the operation he had to have on his hamstring injury.

The injury, which would be diagnosed as a hamstring problem, then remarkably a torn buttock muscle, before returning to it's original hamstring diagnosis has troubled Nelsen for sometime, seeing him miss out on the whole of pre-season, was operated on in Finland by the highly rated surgeon Professor Ovara on Tuesday.

"The surgeon was very happy with how it went and we now hope he recovers quickly. We believe he will come back a stronger player," said Manager Mark Hughes when speaking on the official Blackburn Rovers website.

New Zealand International Nelsen, 28, who signed a new four-year extension to his Rovers contract in the summer, has been instrumental to the clubs success since his arrival so hopefully this has cured the problem once and for all, and will see him back in action soon, Christmas said to be the targeted date.

Hughes would also say:

"He will probably be out for about three months. Hopefully we get him back around Christmas time so he will be like a new player for us, that's the way we are viewing it."

"It was unfortunate, but it needed to be done. We got the best surgeon in the world for that specific area and he was very happy with the operation. He went in there, saw the problem and rectified it."

Obviously the injury came at a time when Rovers need him the most but these things happen, so long as the injury has been cleared up once and for all Rovers will reap the benefits in the long-term.

There would however be some good news for the immediate future; the red card given to Francis Jeffers in a recent reserve team clash against Manchester United has been rescinded following a successful appeal. This leaves Jeffers suspension free and available for Hughes' selection.

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