Gyan admits to mental struggle

Ghana international Asamoah Gyan said his penalty miss at the 2010 World Cup still plays on his mind.

Gyan - who declared that he has quit international football 'indefinitely' recently - said the penalty miss against Uruguay, which cost his nation a spot in the semi-finals, has changed him for the worse on the pitch.

On loan at Al-Ain from Sunderland, Gyan missed a penalty in Ghana's 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final loss to eventual champions Zambia earlier this month.

And the star striker,26, said the penalty misses had plagued his game.

"Firstly, it's important I express my sincere apologies to my country," Gyan posted on Twitter.

"I never intended to make a decision like this early on in my career."

"Psychologically I am down. As you can imagine it's been very hard for me mentally to miss two important successive penalties for my country."

"And because of this a break to recoup my thoughts and emotions will aid me to come back bigger and mentally stronger."

"I never fully recovered from the 2010 World Cup and now 2012 Afcon. I want my country to know I love playing for them and I wouldn't be who I am without them."

"I would like to ask for prayers and support from Ghanaians to help me to come back with a renewed strength to continue serving my country."

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has recently expressed his desire to bring Gyan back since his arrival at the club.