By Akyereko Frimpong-Manson

Defender Jonathan Mensah has been ruled out Ghana’s crucial 2012 Nations Cup qualifier at Sudan on 8 October due to a thigh injury.

The enterprising centre-back is facing up to five weeks on the sidelines for stretching muscle on his thigh.

The 21-year-old picked up the problem during his French Ligue 1 debut on Wednesday for Evian Thonon Gaillard against Olympique Marseille.

Mensah was forced to play through the pain barrier because his side had exhausted their three substitutions.

“The injury occurred somewhere around the 80th minute but I could not be changed and managed to play on. I now feel the pains when I walk,” he exclusively told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“I’m a bit shuttered because I played my first match and it went well but what can you do?

“I have stayed mentally strong and recover quickly to help my club.”

The 2009 Fifa Under-20 World Cup winner was absent from the Evian TG bench which lost 4-2 to Caen at home this weekend.

His absence could affect the plans of Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic who used him as a like-for-like replacement for captain John Mensah.

Mensah will also miss the international friendly against Nigeria on 11 October in London.