A pillar of Chelsea and Ghana’s national team, powerful midfielder Michael Essien is hopeful he has overcome two years’ of injury setbacks. He missed the entire 2009-10 PremierLeague season as well as the World Cup with a torn hamstring and a knee injury, but is in sharp form for Premier League leader and defending champion Chelsea.
The club unloaded 10 playersover the summer but gave Essien a two-year contract extension despite his injury problems.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Essien said, “where a player is given a new contract when he hasbeen out for six months. “Those kind of injuries can easily end your career. I’m lucky to be back and I thank God for making it possible to be back. I’ve put everything behind me now and I’m enjoyingmy football. I can go forward.”