Nelsen signed a contract extension in January this year

Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The New Zealand international, who has had recurring problems since January, came off during Saturday's draw at Birmingham and had surgery on Monday.

"It is a big blow," manager Steve Kean told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"If the surgeon had looked at his knee in January he'd have had the same op, so our medical team have done well to keep him on the pitch for so long."

Kean added: "The prognosis says he should be back for some time in August.

"He's just got to rest now fully for a month and then start to build up the rehab from there."

The operation cleared out floating debris in his knee, which Kean said had been causing Nelsen a lot of pain.

He didn't at all say he wasn't going to play. He just said 'I'll play if you want me to play' Blackburn boss Steve Kean on Gael Givet's recent absence

The manager admitted Nelsen's absence would be a big loss, but on the plus side they Rovers can call on fit-again Phil Jones as a replacement.

"Fortunately for us Phil Jones is back fully fit," the Scot said. "He's slotted in and looked as though he'd never been away from central defence so that's fantastic for us."

Defender Gael Givet should be back in contention to face Everton on Saturday after missing their last game because of, what Kean called, not "mentally being in a great place" over longstanding contract issues.

"I've been speaking with him one-on-one and he's feeling much better," said the Blackburn manager.

"It goes back a long way to when he first arrived at the club. I think there were certain parts to Gael's contract that were unclear to him.

"But having spent a lot of time sitting down and talking to him and getting to know him really well over the last number of weeks, I think we're very, very close to getting a positive outcome that lets Gael get on with his football.

"He's been excellent in the last couple of days and hopefully he'll know be in the right frame of mind.

"Anybody who sees the way Gael plays knows not only physically, but mentally he gives his all.

"He didn't at all say he wasn't going to play. He just said 'I'll play if you want me to play'.

"But he's been worried about a number of things I don't want to go into, but I'm confident that he's got a lot to give in the last few games."

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