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Chelsea and Ghana's Michael Essien Awaits Test Results
Knee trouble could put midfielder out of African Cup of Nations...
18-Jan-2010 1:07:00 AM
By Edward Pearce
Chelsea star Michael Essien is waiting to hear the results of tests after he limped out of Ghana's training session at the African Cup of Nations on Sunday with a knee injury.
The midfielder was taken to hospital in Angola by ambulance and underwent tests to gauge the nature and severity of the problem.
The former Lyon man had played only 45 minutes against the Ivory Coast due to a hamstring problem he carried into the tournament, but damage to the knee he injured in 2008 could be far more serious.
On that occasion Essien was out for six months with a ruptured ligament, but club and country will be desperate to have the dynamic Ghanaian back as soon as possible.
The Black Stars face a make-or-break clash with Burkina Faso on Tuesday, needing a win to stay in the competition after their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast side.
Chelsea did not appear to miss their African contingent during a 7-2 thrashing of Sunderland, but have struggled in Essien's absence in the past.
"I don't know the extent of the injury but we will find out later," Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac told BBC Sport.
The midfielder was taken to hospital in Angola by ambulance and underwent tests to gauge the nature and severity of the problem.
The former Lyon man had played only 45 minutes against the Ivory Coast due to a hamstring problem he carried into the tournament, but damage to the knee he injured in 2008 could be far more serious.
On that occasion Essien was out for six months with a ruptured ligament, but club and country will be desperate to have the dynamic Ghanaian back as soon as possible.
The Black Stars face a make-or-break clash with Burkina Faso on Tuesday, needing a win to stay in the competition after their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast side.
Chelsea did not appear to miss their African contingent during a 7-2 thrashing of Sunderland, but have struggled in Essien's absence in the past.
"I don't know the extent of the injury but we will find out later," Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac told BBC Sport.
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