Ghana's Michael Essien set to learn World Cup fate

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will find out later this week if he has any chance of playing for Ghana in the World Cup.

The 27-year-old has not kicked a ball for five months since injuring knee ligaments in January.

"The plan right now is to have a detailed meeting with the Ghana Football Association and with Chelsea as well in the next few days," he said.

If declared fit, Essien hopes to play in a pre-World Cup friendly.

"We are organising [the meeting] as we speak so everyone will be fully informed about the situation and the progress on a daily basis," said Essien.

"We felt it was best to leave it until now so as not to disrupt Chelsea's league and Cup plans and also it is the best time for the Ghana FA as the team will be getting ready to meet up now."

"I feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago so I am keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well" -Michael Essien said.

Essien's last run-out in a Chelsea shirt was against Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League in December.

Having recovered from his hamstring tear, he then hurt his knee at the Africa Cup of Nations, but that was only expected to keep him out for six weeks.

It was anticipated he would make his Chelsea comeback in the Champions League game against Inter Milan last month, but his knee continued to swell up and he underwent surgery four times inside a fortnight.

"At the moment I am carrying on with my rehabilitation programme," said Essien.

"Chelsea have allowed me to carry on until the end of May at Cobham and my fitness will be assessed by the experts as the days go by.

"I feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago so I am keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well.

"I haven't played since January as you well know so I will need games before the real thing starts."

This means he could play in the Black Stars last friendly against Latvia in Milton Keynes on 5 June before the World Cup starts on 11 June.

Essien is central to Ghana's hopes in South Africa as they face Serbia, Australia and Germany in Group D.