Ryan Nelsen to miss Oceania Nations Cup

New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out of the Oceania Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying tournament in June with an ankle injury.

The Tottenham Hotspur defender had previously pulled out of New Zealand's friendlies against Honduras and El Salvador in the United States in late May.

Nelsen will captain the New Zealand at the London Olympics and national coach Ricki Herbert said it was best to allow him a full recovery.

Herbert said ''the injury he's has been carrying needs rest and we've not going to do the player or our team any favors by throwing him into the demanding schedule we've got coming up and risking greater long-term damage.''

The Nations Cup will be played in the Solomon Islands from June 1 to 10.