Mensah happy with output in Russia

Anzhi Makhachkala defender Jonathan Mensah is enjoying life in the Russian top flight, despite having been periodically kept out by injury.

The Ghanaian joined the Eagles from French Ligue 1 club Evian TG on a two-and-a-half-year deal in July.

“The season is OK for me,” Mensah told Kwesse Sports

“Due to injury, I missed some of games but I played nine out of 15 games in the first half of the season, so it is not bad.

"I think if I was fit throughout, I would have played all the games.

“I’m very thankful to God because I have come a long way, but I also know there is so much I can do.

“There have been difficult moments but I have made progress.

"All I can hope for is good health, to be able to stay in shape to do what I do best for my country, club and myself.”

Mensah transferred to Evian from Italian side Udinese in 2011 following a loan spell with La Liga outfit Granada.

He has previously played for South African side Free State Stars and Ashanti Gold in Ghana.

Mensah was a member of Ghana’s gold-winning squad at the 2009 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, having gone on to represent the Black Stars at the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cup tournaments in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

The centre-back has also been to four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning silver in 2010 and 2015.