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01.01.2010 Cup of Nations

John Mensah out of Ghana's Nations Cup squad

By ghanasoccernet.com
John Mensah is nursing a calf injuryJohn Mensah is nursing a calf injury
01.01.2010 LISTEN

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has left out dependable defender John Mensah in the final squad for the African Cup of Nations next week.

 
An ongoing calf injury misery has ruined Mensah's dreams of leading his country to the continental tournament in Angola. 

 
A medical report submitted to the Ghana Football Association revealed that the stand-in captain will be out for between three to four weeks.

This means the Sunderland stalwart defender can only play from the semi finals if he recovers in three weeks' time as the tournament starts in 11 days.

 
And that only depends on the Black Stars reaching that stage of the three-week competition.

Italy-based defender and a key member of the U20 World Cup squad Jonathan Mensah has been called to replace the Sunderland ace.

The Ghana FA was overly careful as former coach Claude Leroy took an injured Shilla Illiasu to the 2008 Nations Cup and he did not even play a game at the tournament they hosted.

Mensah has been plagued by hamstring and calf injuries which medics believe could stem from his back and he is desperate to get to the bottom of the issue as he fights to be fit for his country's opening clash with Togo on January 11.

He has started only four of Sunderland's 20 Barclays Premier League games this season after being hampered by injuries throughout his temporary stay on Wearside.

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