Udinese star midfielder, Kwadwo Asamoah, has told 90 MINUTES of his prayer for Michael Essien to recover in time for Ghana ’s World Cup campaign.

Asamoah says the Chelsea midfielder is too valuable for the national team that it will be almost catastrophic for him not to make it for the global soccer showpiece.

Essien has sat out a large part of the just-concluded European football season through a string of injuries and has not played since crashing out of Ghana ’s campaign at Angola 2010. But Asamoah hopes the Chelsea star will be back on the field soon. “He is very important to the team and we need him very much. The World Cup is all about big players and a player like Essien will bring a lot into our team.

“I enjoyed every minute when I played alongside him against Mali during the qualifiers. It was very good and I look forward to playing with him again,” Asamoah stated.

Many Ghanaians see 21 year old Asamoah as the national team’s biggest star going into the World Cup following a spectacular season in Serie A for Udinese.

But the man reportedly wanted by many of Europe ’s top clubs does not want to carry all the glory by himself. “I love playing for Ghana,” he said.

“I’m always happy and proud to wear the Ghana jersey and I always give off my best but I can do nothing without my teammates. “All the players are special and I pray that everybody will be ready and fit to give off their best and we shall do well for Ghana ,” he told 90 MINUTES.