Essien ruled out of World Cup

(GSM) – Ghana and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup in South Africa after failing to recover from an injury.

The 27-year-old has already missed large parts of the concluded season due to knee and ankle injuries.

The former Olympique Lyon dynamo has hardly played any competitive football since December.

National coach Milovan Rajevac had hoped that Essien would be passed fit for the tournament this summer, but the Ghana Football Association today announced he was not expected to be back in action until the end of July.

A statement on Ghana’s official website read: “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.”