Ghana Battle Injuries Ahead Of World Cup Tie

Ghana could well be without several key players for their World Cup qualifying tie against Benin next month due to injury.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac is clutching a long and varied injury list as he prepares for the World Cup qualifying game against Benin.

Hearts Midfielder Laryea Kingston has been ruled out for two months with his club manager, Csaba Laszlo, revealing that a scan has shown that Kingston suffered a torn ligament after being stretchered off in the game against St Mirren recently.

NAC Breda striker Matthew Amoah is also unavailable. Amoah, who has netted twelve goals in the Dutch top flight this season, injured his knee late in January in a cup game game against Groningen.

Asamoah Gyan is also battling to regain full fitness and there is still considerable doubt whether Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will recover in time for the Benin game on March 28.

Reports have suggested that Essien, who has been sidelined by injury for almost six months, could play his first game on Monday for Chelsea reserves against Aston Villa.

Essien ruptured his anterior cruciate in a World Cup tie against Libya on September 5.

For last month's friendly against African champions Egypt, the Black Stars were without several players including top defender John Mensah due to injury.

Mali and Sudan are the other teams in Ghana's qualifying group, which will determine both the qualifier for the 2010 World Cup as well as the three finalists for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.