Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien needs more time before returning to the senior national team after a string of career threatening injuries, according to Ibrahim Sannie Dara, Spokesperson for the Ghana Football Association.
He said although the coach of the Black Stars would love to have the midfielder in the team, the football association is aware of the difficulties the 28-year old has had to deal with in the last two seasons and because of that, the coach will give him more time to recuperate before returning to the team.
Essien temporarily called time on his international career after a serious knee injury he suffered during the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola. He later rescinded the decision but has only played two games for the Black Stars since then.
Essien is one of a few players who have been inactive for the Black Stars for some time now. Striker Asamoah Gyan who last week announced his return to the Black Stars had also temporarily retired from the national team following two successive penalty misses – the 2010 World Cup quarter final against Uruguay and against Zambia in the 2012 African Nations Cup hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Kevin Prince Boateng also retired from the Black Stars citing frequent injuries as a result of playing both international and club football.
The Black Stars have had a jerky start in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers despite beating Lesotho 7-0 in the first leg in Kumasi. The Stars however lost by a lone goal to reigning African Champions Zambia in the second game and are now facing a difficult task qualifying for a third (3rd) straight World Cup.
The Black Stars however have a manageable opponent en route to the 2013 African Nations cup in South Africa after been paired with Malawi in the last round of qualifiers.
Ghana however need all their best players available especially with injuries to key players like Sulley Muntari and John Mensah who are all going to be absent in the two-leg tie against Malawi.
Essien is expected to return to the Black Stars soon but not until the English Premier league has started and the midfielder secures a position in Coach Roberto Di Matteo’s team.
