Appiah encourages Asamoah

Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has urged Kwadwo Asamoah to remain positive after suffering yet another setback his protracted battle with injury.

The 26-year-old was is ruled out of Juventus Serie-A clash with AC Milan on Saturday despite being passed fit during the week.

Asamoah is said to have suffered an inflammation on his injured knee.

The former Udinese man has suffered similar setbacks since undergoing surgery last November to fix a knee injury.

Asamoahs injury is a similar one suffered by Stephen Appiah during his time with Turkish giants Fernabahce, effectively forcing the former Ghana captain into retirement.

But Appiah, a former Juventus midfielder himself says Kwadwo Asamoah must not give up despite going through the most difficult spell in his career.

I know at this time what he [Kwadwo Asamoah] is going through with his injury. It is a similar thing I went through and I can tell you it is very tough, he told GHANAsoccernet.com.

During this period, you must have a strong mentality and keep motivated that you will definitely come back.

These kinds of rehabilitations are not easy at all I can tell you that. This is because you do the same exercise over and over again morning, evening.

If you are not strong mentally, you will easily give up.

I talk to him always and I keep encouraging him that all will be well, but I know it is very tough.

Kwadwo Asamoah has endured a torrid time with his problematic knee injury for almost a year but was expected to have made a full recovery to play in this weekends Serie-A game for Juventus only to suffer the latest complication.