NZ skipper ruled out of early World Cup qualifiers

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WELLINGTON, Oct 8 (AFP): Injured Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out of the opening matches of New Zealand's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Nelsen, who had been named New Zealand skipper, has been suffering a strained hamstring which prevented him playing for his English premiership team at the weekend.
New Zealand will play Fiji in Auckland Saturday and away in Lautoka the following Wednesday.