Michael Essien to return for Ghana
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien said that he will return to play for Ghana for their African Nations Cup qualifier against Congo in March.
The player has not played for his country since he injured his knee in last January’s African Cup of Nations.
The player picked up the long term injury in Ghana’s first game and this ruled the midfielder out of Chelsea’s successful Premier League campaign as well as Ghana’s World Cup, in which they reached the quarter-finals.
Essien declared that he would take a break from the international side, but the midfielder is now willing to make a return according to the Ghanaian Football Association.
"Essien never said he will not play for Ghana again," GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi said.
"He merely asked for time away from the team and has now told us he will be available for selection in March," added the GFA president.
Essien has started the season in fine form for Chelsea. The club are top of the Premier League and have only lost one game so far this season.
Essien has proven to be instrumental this season and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the player’s return is like a new signing for the club.
The midfielder appears to be back to his best, but the Chelsea player will find that there is competition for his place when he returns.
Anthony Annan proved to be an able replacement for Ghana in the World Cup in South Africa and the side were very unlucky to be eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
Ghana will go into the tournament as one of the favourites and will be expected to qualify for the latter stages of the tournament with ease.
The fact that Essien has decided to return to the squad will give the national team a huge lift ahead of the competition.
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