Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen admits he's desperate to play for New Zealand in the Beijing Olympics.

The football tournament runs between August 6th and 23rd, meaning Nelsen could miss the Premier League kick-off on August 16 if New Zealand progress beyond the group stages.

Nelsen said: "Hopefully, we can organise something and make myself available because to go to an Olympics is every sportsman's dream. It is pretty special.

"I think everyone given the chance would want to go to an Olympics and I certainly would want to go.

"It would be awesome just to be among all the other New Zealand athletes and see just how it's done."