• Ghana midfielder ruled out of World Cup finals
• Surgery complications delay recovery until end of July
Michael Essien faces a battle to be fully fit for next season after Chelsea admitted that the midfielder, who has been ruled out of Ghana’s World Cup campaign, had suffered “complications arising from the surgery” on his knee.
Essien damaged ligaments on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations in January and his rehabilitation has been hampered by the knee repeatedly swelling up and having to undergo procedures to have the fluid drained.
The 27-year-old has not appeared for Chelsea since he tore his hamstring in the Champions League tie against Apoel Nicosia last December and the manager Carlo Ancelotti’s hope that Essien could be welcomed back for the final two weeks of the season was dashed.
Essien has worked tirelessly at Chelsea’s training ground to build his fitness but he has not yet returned to contact sessions. The Ghana Football Association assessed him in London and has been forced to digest the bitter pill that he lacked the required fitness to lead the team in South Africa. England could face Ghana in the last 16.
The GFA issued a statement, endorsed by Chelsea, who carried it on their website, which said that Essien would not make a full recovery until the end of July, just before the start of the new season.
“Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” read the GFA statement. “An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July.
“The Ghana Football Association wishes him full recovery and a quick return to football action.”
Chelsea added: “Complications arising from the surgery have meant Michael’s recovery has been slower than expected.”
Germany, who feature in Ghana’s World Cup group with Serbia and Australia, have warmed up with a 24-0 victory over a local amateur team in their training camp in Sudtirol. Bayern Munich strikers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez, who had only just arrived after the Champions League final, scored five goals each.
The 6ft 8in Serbia striker Nikola Zigic has been tipped by Birmingham’s manager, Alex McLeish, to thrive in the Premier League after joining the club for about £6m. “I’ve heard through the grapevine he calls Peter Crouch ‘wee man’,” McLeish joked. “He is certainly a big lad and I’m sure he could have a career in basketball.
“But despite his height he’s a good footballer, he brings other people into play and I spoke to the Serbia coach Radi Antic and he said he was a fantastic team player. I think he will do well at Birmingham.”
ChelseaGhanaDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk
