Black stars Squad Out ...Essien In

Michael Essien's return to international football coincides with a Ghana call up for the qualifying match against Congo for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Goran Stevanovic has named the midfielder for the double header against Congo in the qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and South Korea in an international friendly later next month as the team begins preparations in Accra on May 26.

Essien had temporarily put his international career on hold last year after suffering injuries while playing for the Black Stars with his last game for Ghana, a forty-five minute appearance at the 2010 Nations Cup.

The Black Stars coach today released a 24-man squad to represent the nation for the upcoming fixtures.

Ghana plays the Congolese at the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, June 3 in a crucial Group I reverse fixture before turning their attentions to the friendly in Seoul four days later.

Asamoah Gyan, who is suspended for the game against Congo is also named in the squad for the fixture with Korea.

Ghana welcomes Opoku Agyemang back into the team after a long spell through injury while Kevin-Prince Boateng would be marking his home debut since turning out for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.

The Black Stars were 3-0 winners in the corresponding fixture against Congo in Brazzaville in March.

Ghana are top Group I with 7 points but with a better goal difference ahead of Sudan after three games in the qualifying campaign.

Ghana Squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Blackpool, England) Sammy Adjei (Hearts of Oak, Ghana), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England) Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium) David Addy (Academica Coimbra, Portugal) Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England) Lee Addy (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Schalke 04, Germany), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Sulley Muntari (Sunderland, England) Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy) Andre Ayew (Marseille, France) Opoku Agyemang (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland, England) Prince Tagoe (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Dominic Adiyiah (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)