Ryan Pushing For Return

Ryan Nelsen admits it will be 'hard' to reclaim his place in the Blackburn Rovers team.

The New Zealand defender has missed the last six weeks with a leg injury suffered in the shock 2-0 Uefa Cup defeat to Larissa.

He is fit again and is hoping to be recalled by Mark Hughes for Wednesday's Carling Cup fourth round tie at Portsmouth.

But the Rovers captain accepts that, with the team on a six-game winning streak, he can not take a return for granted.

'A bit frustrating for a few weeks there, but I'm back now,' Nelsen told Sky Sports News.

'It's hard to get into the Blackburn team at the moment, which is fantastic, but hopefully fingers crossed.'

Nelsen also revealed the club's determination to make progress in the Carling Cup, particularly after the first-round defeat in the Uefa Cup.

He added: 'The early exit of the Uefa Cup was a huge blow to us, but I suppose it has opened up the door now for the priority for the Carling Cup.

'We want to win things and the manager wants to win things. He reminded us he won it here as a player.

'I think he wants to do it as a manager as well and we want to do it as players.'

Mikey Gamst

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