Desailly: Essien needs more time to decide on Ghana return

Ghana-born former France Captain Marcel Desailly wants Ghanaians to desist from putting pressure on Michael Essien to end his self-imposed exile from the Black Stars.

The Chelsea ace last played for the Black Stars in June 2011 during a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier before a knee injury picked during pre-season training with his club sidelined his for six months.

Essien made a return to active football before the turn of the year 2011, but asked to be excused from international duty.

He was left out Ghana's squad for the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

It was expected that the former Ream Madrid would have announced his imminent return after last Saturday's charity football match dubbed the Game of Hope organised by the Michael Essien Foundation, but that was not to be.

"It is his own decision, he got three very big injuries where he could have completely stop football," said Desailly.

"Two of the injuries he had were caused by going into national team and playing on bad field which has created a lot of problem for him.

"I think we should leave him in peace and I’m not sure he will be able to answer, yes he wants to come back but his body doesn’t want, he has to stick to one competition.

"Unfortunately the choice is not there for him, from the heart yes is Ghana, yes he will be there but from the physical aspect I’m not sure he can handle it."