BLACKBURN Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen is edging closer to a first-team comeback.

The New Zealand international, who has been sidelined with a hamstring problem since the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on January 19, trained with the senior squad for the first time in six weeks yesterday.

Manager Mark Hughes is hopeful Nelsen could be back in contention for a first-team return in the next couple of weeks, but he has stopped short of identifying a specific date for comeback for fear of putting undue pressure on the Kiwi.

The Rovers chief, whose side face Fulham in the Premier League at Ewood today, said: "Ryan is making progress. He's a lot stronger.

"There was an imbalance in the strength in both legs so that's why he was compromising his tendons.

"So are trying to build up the power and strength in one leg to make sure there isn't that imbalance which puts too much strain on the tendon.

"It's something we've been trying to address over a period of time.

"You can't just take a pill or have a massage to address something like that, you have to have a body of work that enables you to redress the balance."

The sight of Nelsen back in training will be a welcome boost to Hughes, even though it could be several more weeks before he is ready to put himself in the frame for a recall.