Black Stars call for striker

Chris Dickson has been called into the Ghana squad for their midweek friendly against Zambia at Leyton Orient FC - but injury has prevented Lloyd Sam from linking up with the Black Stars for the first time.

Both Addicks were summoned by Ghana boss Milovan Rajevac for the clash at the Matchroom Stadium on Wednesday, August 12th.

Frontman Dickson, who has one cap to his name, will join the likes of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari in East London, but Charlton manager Phil Parkinson said Sam will not make the short trip.

He confirmed: "Both have been called up. Dicko's gone but Lloyd has been suffering with a patella injury and that's why we brought him off on Saturday. We need to protect him this week so he'll be staying with us.”

Dickson, whose sole Black Stars outing came in Tanzania last August, netted three times in pre-season and was an unused substitute at the weekend as the Addicks named seven replacements in the league for the first time in the club's history.

Ghana are on course to reach next year's World Cup finals in South Africa having won their opening three qualifying matches to earn a five-point cushion over Mali.

A 1-0 home win against Benin preceded 2-0 successes in Mali and Sudan, and their next Group D qualifier sees them host Sudan on September 6th.

Zambia have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three Group C games, and sit three points behind leaders Algeria.

The Wednesday friendly will be the first full men's international to be played at Leyton Orient, and the match kicks off at 7.45pm.