Essien 'suffers knee injury'
Ghanaian reportedly damages cruciate ligaments in training
Last Updated: July 8, 2011 5:03pm
Sky Sports sources understand that Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has sustained a serious knee injury in pre-season training.
Reports have emerged from the Cobham training ground of last season's Premier League runners-up that the Ghanaian has damaged cruciate ligaments on the first day of full training.
Essien has been troubled by knee injuries in the past and it has been suggested that the problems have decreased his impact as a player.
The 28-year-old was unavailable for a large chunk of the 2008/09 season due to cruciate knee ligament damage.
Essien then suffered a medial ligament injury at the African Nations Cup last year and missed the 2010 World Cup as a consequence.
Chelsea, or new boss Andre Villas-Boas, have yet to confirm the news, but it is thought that further medical tests are being undertaken at Cobham.
It had been suggested earlier in the summer that Essien could be sold and Inter Milan were linked with a bid.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11095_7028623,00.html
