Ryan Nelsen says he will only quit New Zealand when it has a detrimental effect on his Blackburn form.
Rovers centre-half refuses to end international career
Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen says he will only quit international football when it has a detrimental effect on his club form.
The 33-year-old New Zealand captain has earned 45 caps for his country and played for the All Whites in the World Cup earlier in the year.
Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has urged the experienced stopper to consider stepping down from international duty to concentrate on his future at Ewood Park.
However, Nelsen insists that he will continue to combine the two as long as he is fit to do so.
He told the
Lancashire Telegraph: "I would just like to finish it on my terms and when I feel that's being detrimental to Blackburn or vice versa, then I think it will be time to call it quits.
"But at the moment, I feel really good, my body feels good and I feel fit. I'm still motivated to play so at the moment, the time is not right.
"Maybe in six months, a year, two years, I don't know, that could be completely different.
"I try to keep as fit as I can because I'm not getting any younger, but once that starts coming, anything detrimental to Blackburn or to New Zealand, I will call it quits."
Nelsen has started 12 Premier League games for Blackburn this term and has played a leading part in their solid start to the campaign.
