Gyan back in training but trio doubtful
Reuters - Tuesday 29 June 2010, 18:05
MOGWASE - Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan
returned to training on Tuesday after an injury scare although
three other key players sat out practice, heightening fears over
their fitness for Friday's World Cup quarter-final with Uruguay.
Captain John Mensah, midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and
defender Hans Sarpei watched from the sidelines as coach Milovan
Rajevac took his squad through another lengthy training session
in preparation for the match at Soccer City.
Persistent back problems mean defender Mensah is restricted
in his ability to train and is being helped by a specialist
physiotherapist who has travelled from France to treat him.
Boateng, who scored the opening goal in last Saturday's
second round win over the United States, picked up a hamstring
strain in the match at Rustenburg.
He is having extensive medical treatment in an attempt to be
ready for Ghana's bid to become the first African side to reach
the World Cup semi-finals.
Sarpei is battling a calf injury that officials said made
him a serious doubt. "It doesn't look good for him on Friday,"
Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi told Reuters at training.
Gyan, who has scored three of Ghana's four goals at the
finals, suffered a scare on Monday when he injured his ankle and
had to strap it up with ice to reduce swelling.
On Tuesday he jogged several laps of the pitch at the
Mogwase Stadium but did not take part in any practice games.
Coach Milovan Rajevac will have Isaac Vorsah back to replace
the suspended Jonathan Mensah in central defence but it remains
unclear whether Sulley Muntari will get the midfield role
vacated by the suspended Dede Ayew.
Muntari has only played a cameo role at the finals so far
after a bust up with Rajevac following Ghana's second group game
against Australia in Rustenberg on June 19 where he was only
used as a substitute.
Nyantakyi said an appeal to soccer's world governing body
FIFA over Ayew's caution against the U.S, his second of the
tournament, had been rejected.
Ghana argued he had been wrongly booked because TV replays
showed he made no contact with U.S. striker Jozy Altidore but
FIFA ruled the referee's decision was final, he said.
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