Disaster: Michael Essien picked up the injury while training with Ghana
11 April 2012
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is set to be sidelined for at least a month after damaging knee ligaments while at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ghana international broke down in training yesterday and scans revealed he has partially torn the medial ligament in his left knee and damaged his meniscus.
It means Essien will miss the match against Arsenal on 7 February and is a doubt for the first leg of Chelsea's Champions League tie against Inter Milan on 24 February.
Essien had just returned to fitness having been out for four weeks with a hamstring injury and only joined up with Ghana on Wednesday.
Ghana striker Matthew Amoah said: "We've lost the motor in our midfield and this is very bad."
