Another Six Months Out For Essien

Chelsea's Michael Essien has received some disappointing news about his knee injury.


Luiz Felipe Scolari fully expected midfielder Michael Essien to be back in first team action by January. However, it is now looking likely that the player faces up to another six months on the sidelines.

The Ghana star sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage during a World Cup qualifier against Libya in September after landing awkwardly on his knee and has not played since.

"It's difficult for the moment to fix a date for my return," Essien said, "but I know that my recovery period will last a total of four to six months."

He is currently undergoing treatment in France, at the Centre Technique National Fernand-Sastre (CTNFS) in Clairefontaine, but is set to return to London next week.

"The surgeon who operated on me who recommended to me to come to Clairefontaine as it's the first time in my career that I have been so seriously injured," the player added.

"It's actually the third time I've come to the CTNFS. I'm very well looked after and the club doctor and physiotherapist have visited me.

"I will return to London but it's possible that I'll then come back to Clairefontaine.

"So far at the moment I'm not thinking about it much. I'm following the treatment calmly. Everything's going well."

With Chelsea crushing Sunderland 5-0 today, he may find it harder to win his place back in the side than he expects.