All Whites and Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen picked the perfect time to score his first FA Premier League goal, helping to ease Rovers’ relegation fears in a 2-0 home win over Wigan on Monday morning.

With Blackburn already a goal to the good, Nelsen met Benni McCarthy’s 60th minute right-wing free-kick with a brilliant flick to seal a victory that lifts his side six points clear of the drop zone.

While Nelsen has scored nine times for the All Whites in 38 matches – including a brace in his most recent start for New Zealand in Thailand - his first goal for his employers has been harder to come by, making 133 appearances in all competitions since arriving at Ewood Park in January 2005.