24 Feb 2012

Nelsen confirmed for clash with Jamaica

4:10 pm on 24 February 2012

The All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen's confirmed he will make the whirlwind trip to lead New Zealand against Jamaica in Wednesday's football international in Auckland.

While obliged to release Nelsen for the match there had been a suggestion that his new English club Tottenham may want him to remain in London.

But the chief executive of New Zealand football Grant McKavanagh says he spoke with Nelsen and he's confirmed his availability.

McKavanagh says given Nelsen is trying to establish himself at the club he wanted to make sue he was comfortable about returning home for the match and it wasn't a matter of holding Tottenham to FIFA rules.

Nelsen will leave London after Monday morning's London derby against Arsenal arriving in time for the captain's run at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday evening.

He'll then fly out immediately after the game to return for Spurs weekend match against premier league leaders Manchester United.