Essien expects to miss Blues run-in

21 April 2010 22:08
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien expects to miss the Premier League run-in and fears he may not recover to play for Ghana at the World Cup.[LNB] Essien had hoped to return for this Sunday's home match with Stoke, but after complications in his rehabilitation from a knee injury the 27-year-old fears he may not even be ready to lead his country to South Africa.[LNB]Asked if he thought he would be fit for the World Cup, Essien said: "As at now I don't know. I am just taking it day by day and if I can make it I will.[LNB]"If not then I will have sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian.[LNB]"Until I know how the injury improves in the coming days and weeks, it will be difficult to say whether I will make the World Cup or not."[LNB]Essien suffered the knee injury while on national team duty at the African Nations Cup in January as Ghana went on to lose in the final to Egypt.[LNB]The midfielder is central to Ghana's hopes in South Africa, but with their first game against Serbia on June 13 he is reluctant to play unless fully fit.[LNB]"Yes it will be (disappointing to miss out) but the World Cup is the best and most difficult football tournament in the world and I would rather be there fully fit," he added on his official website www.michaelessiengh.com.[LNB]"We will just have to wait and see."[LNB]Essien had originally hoped to be back in action in time for Chelsea's home Champions League leg against Inter Milan.[LNB]But his knee continued to swell up and the player underwent four lots of surgery inside a fortnight.[LNB]He began a running programme as a part of his rehabilitation last week, but suffered discomfort in his knee which further slowed his recovery and resigned him to sitting out the remainder of the season.[LNB]"I will not make the Stoke game and to be honest it is possible my season for Chelsea may be over," he added.[LNB]"It is still down to the medical team but it looks more unlikely that I will play for Chelsea again this season.[LNB]"I have been dreaming about coming back and helping the team win a trophy or two like last season but sometimes dreams don't always come true.[LNB]"I am supporting the other guys in different ways at the training ground and I have every confidence that they will deliver."[LNB]He added: "The medical team are doing a brilliant job and I can't thank them enough.[LNB]"I started running last week but had to stop because of slight pains I was feeling in my leg. It is a minor setback which I could do without but that is part of the game we play.[LNB]"It has ups and downs and one has to stay focused."

Source: Team_Talk