Jonathan Mensah keeps fit with Evian

Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah might be suspended from club football and a free agent as well but is spending his time away training with Evian Thonon Gaillard.

Inspite of his lack of club action,Mensah is one of 24 players called up by Black Stars coach Avram Grant ahead of two fixtures against Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda in September,a decision that raised eyebrows.

FIFA judged that Mensah was still contracted to Udinese when he joined French club Evian Thonon Gaillard four years ago claiming to be a free agent and issued a four month ban that has kept him from active league duty. The sanction however is not spent during the off season and does not apply to national team friendlies or qualifiers.

Mensah has become the defensive leader of the national team after struggles to build upon his promise as a teen phenom during the 2009 U-20 World Cup and 2010 World Cup in South Africa.