Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen has ruled himself out of the Confederations Cup next month in South Africa because of a calf injury.

He will sit out Blackburn's final match because of the problem and will now miss the summer tournament which his New Zealand side take part in as Oceania`s best side.

In a statement to the media in his homeland Nelsen said: "I was really looking forward to playing.

"The Confederations Cup is great preparation for the World Cup play-off and I'm just gutted I won't be there now."