Ghana have been dealt a major blow with the news that Michael Essien will not be fit for the World Cup.

The 27-year-old Chelsea midfielder has been battling knee and ankle injuries for much of this season and it means he will not recover fully until the end of July.

Essien picked up the knee knock whilst on international duty for Ghana during the African Cup of Nations earlier in the year, and will now miss the first ever World Cup on his home continent.

Ghana manager Milovan Rajevac had hoped the former Lyon man would be passed fit for the showpiece tournament in South Africa, but he now faces more time on the sidelines.

A statement on the Ghana website said: "Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien, has been ruled out of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

"An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July.

"The Ghana Football Association wishes him full recovery and a quick return to football action."

Essien played in the 2006 World Cup in Germany four years ago in what was the Black Stars' first appearance in the tournament.

This year Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside Australia, Germany and Serbia.

Source:Sky Sports