Appiah plays through pain

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has revealed that he is playing through the pain barrier to aid his Turkish club Fenerbahce.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been hampered by a knee injury for the past four months.

Appiah was asked by club doctors to rest to recover but the Ghanaian insisted he wanted to help his club win the title.

"Last season we lost the league title on the last day of the season and I don't want that to happen this year that's why I kept playing in pain," Appiah told BBC Sport.

"But now the pain is so severe that I have been unable to play the entire duration of our recent matches.

"After tests on the knee the doctors confirmed that it is not fractured.

"Hopefully the knee can respond to rest and recuperation."

Appiah is not expected to play when they face Gaziantepspor on Friday but should return next week to help his club win the title.

With six rounds left, Fenerbahce are on top of the table with 56 points, just four points ahead of second-placed Besiktas.