You are here: HomeNews2013 08 12Article 282251

Sports News of Monday, 12 August 2013

Source: footy-ghana

Essien not keen on Stars return

Footy-ghana.com can reveal that Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien wants to delay a possible return to the Black Stars until he has secured a regular place in the club’s starting eleven for the English Premier League.

According to our highly placed sources, Essien delayed announcing a possible comeback to the national team because of uncertainty surrounding his club future.

Footy-ghana.com understands that even though he is delighted to have Jose Mourinho back as manager of Chelsea, Essien wants to work his way back into first team reckoning before considering a return from his self-imposed exile.

Footy-ghana.com has learnt that intermediary talks are ongoing in a bid to persuade him to return, and that Essien, according to our sources, may consider returning for Ghana’s final World Cup qualifying round in October, should the Black Stars make it through and he is playing regularly for Chelsea.

The Black Stars need at least a draw against Zambia in next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier in Kumasi to make it through to the last qualifying phase.

Essien asked for time off from the Black Stars after sustaining two serious knee injuries, one of which ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.