The Rovers captain returns for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Reading at the Madejski Stadium after 10 weeks on the sidelines.

After playing through the pain barrier for the majority of the first half of the campaign, Nelsen finally listened to what his body was screaming at him.

His problem stemmed from an operation he required in the summer of 2006 to reattach a hamstring tendon that had been torn off the bone.

The New Zealand centre-back spent six months on the sidelines in rehabilitation before eventually returning in January 2007.

However, a year later, Nelsen decided he could no longer continue as the pain he was feeling was badly affecting his performances.

It took what he describes as "a few medical heads" to diagnose the problem - quite simply he had returned too soon and not adequately strengthened the muscles around the tendon.

"I'm my own worst enemy because after the operation I just wanted to run and train, but I did so far too early and it really cost me," remarked Nelsen.

"I knew something was wrong because I was playing horrendously.

"I just didn't have my explosiveness and the speed I normally have. It just wasn't there, which was extremely frustrating.

"But in wanting to put it right I'd get out there and train and play, but by doing that I was hurting myself even more.

"It reached the point that even when I was walking it was hurting, so I had to put my hand up and say 'this is getting ridiculous'.

"Quite a few medical heads then got together, I had scans, and when a surgeon saw it he told me get off it for four weeks.

"I was basically playing on a tendon I shouldn't have even been walking on.

"My hamstring was pathetic and the tendon was taking all the tension. I was trying to do things when it couldn't handle it.

"At the time, when the surgeon told me how bad it was, I thought I could be out for the season.

"But I got my head down, headed to the weight room to get the muscle strong, and the stronger it has become the less pain I've felt, which seems so simple looking back.

"So I made sure I was comfortable with my strength and that I could handle it before I started to run again.

"Now my lungs are spitting up some cobwebs, but at least the injury is okay."

Nelsen is hoping he has avoided the prospect of further surgery, although he appreciates he is always going to feel "niggles here and there".

"It's a rare injury, one that could rear its ugly head again," added the 30-year-old.

"But I've come through some really hard training these past few days, and it's felt good, so I'm quite happy.

"Obviously when I play, I just have to completely blank it out.

If it's going to go, then it will go.

"But I'm quite lucky because if it (the tendon) was going to snap again and fall off, it would have done because it has had the perfect opportunity to do so.

"But it hasn't. It's still intact, it's still really good, so that has given me confidence."

With Christopher Samba suspended, Nelsen looks certain to face the Royals and so play his part in the end-of-season push for a place in next term's UEFA Cup.

"I'm glad to be back helping the boys out for the last seven games when I thought it would be curtains for the season," added Nelsen.

"As long as I'm involved and contributing, then that will be good enough for me.

"We're in a decent position, and if Europe comes along at the end of the season, then brilliant."

Leading scorer Roque Santa Cruz is a doubt with an ankle injury, while Brett Emerton will undergo a late fitness test on a groin strain.

Johann Vogel could finally figure after receiving international clearance this week.