Ghana FA want own doctors to check Essien

The Ghana Football Association have confirmed they may send their own medical staff to check on Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien's hamstring injury.

Essien limped off the pitch during Tuesday's Champions League draw with APOEL Nicosia and could now be a doubt for the African Nations Cup, which kicks off in Angola on January 10.

The GFA are now considering whether to send doctors to Chelsea's Cobham training base to assess the 27-year-old's condition, with the national team due to begin a pre-tournament preparation camp on December 27.

"Our doctors are in contact with Chelsea and we will wait for the advice of our doctors before making a decision.

"We will make that decision based on professional advice. We don't know yet whether we will want Essien to come with us two weeks before the tournament starts.

"If the recommendations from our doctors say we should fly someone over, we will do that.''

Ghana will kick-off their African Nations Cup campaign against Togo on January 11 and also face the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in a tricky group.