Essien continues break from internationals
Reuters - Thursday 04 November 2010, 19:41
ACCRA - Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is
continuing his self-enforced break from international football
by sitting out this month's friendly against Saudi Arabia.
The Chelsea midfielder told Ghanaian officials he wanted a
break, even though he missed the World Cup with a knee injury,
and has not played in the Black Stars' three matches since their
quarter-final exit at the tournament in South Africa in July.
Essien will now miss his country's next match against the
Saudis in Dubai on November 17 having not been named in a 19-man
squad announced by the Ghana Football Association on Thursday.
His Chelsea team mate Didier Drogba also asked for a rest
from the rigours of the international game and the Ivory Coast
striker has not played for his country since the World Cup.
The Ivorians face Poland away in a friendly on November 17 but
have not yet named their squad.
Essien has suffered two serious injuries playing for Ghana
with the last one in January ruling him out of action until the
English Premier League season started in August.