ROVERS skipper Ryan Nelsen has declared ‘this is where our season really starts’ as the Premier League looks forward to a break-free end to the year.

The Kiwi has been frustrated by an international-littered start to the campaign, but believes the next month will finally see teams starting to shape their season.

Just eight league games in the opening two months of the season have left everyone uncertain about the league’s strengths and weaknesses, but Nelsen expects true form to start to kick in from now on.

Three wins and two draws from their opening eight games leaves Rovers sitting in mid-table, with Nelsen calling for a concerted push as the season starts in earnest.

He said: “I think for everyone, the punters, the players, the managers, we can concentrate on the Premier League now without disruptions of the international break.

“I don’t think teams really want breaks because it really hurts when you don’t have a great depth of squad.

"We had only six or seven players training so that really hurts us.

"The guys who were away played really well though at Bolton.

“It is unbelievable, it feels like the season has been going on for ages but we have only played eight games.

“Now the next four or fives games will dictate how the season is going to go.”

While the battle for league places will intensify in the run-up to Christmas, Nelsen knows the fight for places within the club is also fierce.

He and Chris Samba continued their impressive form in the heart of Rovers' defence at Bolton on Saturday, but with Zurab Khizanishvili and Andre Ooijer pushing hard, he is not expecting an easy ride.

There is similar competition between the fullbacks, with Ooijer, Danny Simpson, Martin Olsson and Stephen Warnock all in contention – all great for the future according to Nelsen.

He said: “We have got Warney who has done really well in midfield, which is great. We have got a young guy in Martin who is learning all the time and we have a nice depth there.

“There is great competition and that can only be good for the months ahead.”