BLACKBURN Rovers hope to secure a work permit for Ryan Nelsen early next week.

As expected, Rovers' application for an automatic permit for Nelsen has been rejected by Work Permits UK, but the club have lodged an appeal and a hearing has been convened for Monday, with Ewood officials confident of presenting a strong case in Sheffield.

"We had to wait for the football authorities and Work Permits UK to agree the criteria for work permits before we could make an application but that has now been done and, as expected, Ryan was refused an automatic permit due to New Zealand's place in the world rankings," said Rovers' newly installed executive chairman, John Williams.

"However, we've asked for an appeal hearing and we've now got a date for Monday."

Rovers boss Mark Hughes believes Nelsen has proved he is good enough to play in the Premiership following some impeccable performances during the second half of last season.

The former DC United defender, who joined Rovers on a free under the holiday visa scheme in January, was even made captain at one point and his form was so impressive that the club rewarded him with a new three year contract at the start of the summer.

"We're confident the work permit won't be a problem," said Hughes.

"Ryan has played enough games, he's proved he's the first choice and we've just given him a new three year contract, so I think that states his case for a work permit.

"It was important to get that deal done. Initially, when he first signed we only gave him an 18 month deal because the standard of football he'd been playing in wasn't as high as it is in the Premiership.

"But he came through that with flying colours and we've since rewarded him accordingly."

Even though Nelsen's appeal is to be heard next week, the 27-year-old could still miss the first few days of pre-season training.

Applicants must be out of the country when a permit is granted and once it's processed, Nelsen would then have to pick up his paperwork from either the consulate in New Zealand or America before re-entering the UK.

Williams added: "It may be that Ryan will be delayed in returning to this country by 24 or 48 hours, but that wouldn't be a problem in the overall scheme of things."