The 33-year-old trudged from the field just before half-time in Blackburn's 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Ewood Park on Monday.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce said on the club's website: "Having only looked at it on the replay I'm hoping that he's twisted his ankle and not his knee.

"But he was holding his knee which was the big problem for me.

"I think it is his one where he's had surgery before, so it'll be 48 hours before we can tell and we'll keep our fingers crossed, not just for us but for him."

New Zealand's first friendly is against Mexico in Los Angeles on March 4, followed by matches against Serbia, Slovenia and, most recently confirmed, Australia before the World Cup kicks off on June 11.