RYAN Nelsen is relishing the prospect of playing a full part in the new Premier League season after making giant strides in his road to recovery this summer.

Blackburn Rovers’ club captain is now ahead of schedule in his fight for fitness and is bidding to be back in time for the start of the new campaign.

He will still be missing from this morning’s Premier League Asia Trophy clash against Hong Kong outfit Kitche.

Nelsen was initially expected to miss the first month having gone under the knife for a knee injury towards the end of last season, forcing him to miss the last six games of Rovers’ relegation run-in.

Now though the Kiwi is back in full training and ready to give boss Steve Kean a huge boost ahead of the big kick off, with a replacement for Manchester United’s £16.5m signing Phil Jones yet to be found.

Nelsen said: “Everything is going well. I am ahead of schedule and hopefully will be involved at the start of the season. That is the aim now.

“I am really pleased with how the rehabilitation has gone and since being back in full training, everything has felt good and I am really looking forward to playing a full part next season.

“Of course the injury has been frustrating but the hard work has all been worth it and, like the rest of the players, I now can’t wait for the season to get going again.”

Nelsen has been a key player in the heart of Rovers’ defence since signing on a free transfer from DC United in 2004, forging a formidable partnership with Chris Samba.

With no bids yet received for Samba this summer, the duo look as though they will continue as Rovers’ first choice defensive partnership this time round, to compensate for Jones’ absence.