The Turin-based midfielder has been ruled out for three to four months, and the new Black Stars boss says he will be missed at the Nations Cup.

New Ghana coach Avram Grant has stated Kwadwo Asamoah’s absence at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations is a major blow to the Black Stars.

The Juventus left wing back went under the knife Tuesday in Barcelona to fix a knee injury that will rule him out for a maximum of four months. The Nations Cup kicks off January 17 to February 8 in Equatorial Guinea.

Grant rues the fact that he will miss the versatile player who has been instrumental for the Old Lady.

“Asamoah is a very good player and he has done very well for himself at Juventus. I have monitored him and I am sorry I will not have him available for the 2015 African Nations Cup tournament,” the former Chelsea manager told the press in Accra, Thursday.

The ex-Portsmouth and West Ham boss has given the strongest indications that he will be his own man and will only select players based on merit.

“If a player is good, he would play. If a player has good quality, he would play. I would not call any player untouchable because I do not believe that any player is untouchable,” Grant said at his unveiling at the Ghana FA secretariat.