BLACKBURN Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen is expected to be back in Premier League action within a month – after initial fears of his knee injury threatening his World Cup dreams were quickly allayed.

The New Zealand international went down in agony during Sunday’s 3-0 derby triumph over Bolton, after injuring his knee, with immediate concerns a potentially serious ligament injury could end his season and his summer South Africa campaign.

Initial assessment from the club’s medical staff though suggests Nelsen will not be a long-term absentee and, with scan results expected to confirm the prognosis this morning, Rovers are hopeful the defender will be missing for between two to four weeks.

The club believe the injury suffered is a twist to the ligaments and are confident the scan will confirm surgery will not be needed.

Nelsen’s Kiwi countrymen will be relieved at the news, after some reports suggested Nelsen’s participation in New Zealand’s World Cup adventure was at risk.

Rovers will also be confident they have the strength in depth to cope with the blow of losing their skipper, with Chris Samba returning from suspension at Liverpool this weekend, and the versatile Pascal Chimbonda still in reserve.

Nelsen himself will believe he can return sooner than a month but does seem certain to miss the trips to Liverpool and Tottenham at the least.