Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, his nation's top player, fears he may miss the World Cup because of a knee injury. He injured a hamstring while playing for Chelsea in December. Then at January's African Cup of Nations he injured his right knee in training. Hopes that he would return to action before the end of the English Premier Season have waned because of setbacks in his rehabilitation.

“To be honest, it is possible my season for Chelsea may be over,” Essien. “It is still down to the medical team but it looks more unlikely that I will play for Chelsea again this season.”

Ghana opens June 13 against Serbia, then plays Australia (June 18) and Germany (June 23). Essien helped Ghana reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup, in which it defeated the USA in the final game of the group stage. Ghana lost its first game of the knockout stage, 3-0, to Brazil with Essien on yellow-card suspension.

"As at now I don’t know. I am just taking it day by day, and if I can make it I will," he said. "If not then I will have sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian. Until I know how the injury improves in the coming days and weeks, it will be difficult to say whether I will make the World Cup or not."