by Michael Oti Adjei

Ghana coach will make a late decision on the fitness of captain Asamoah Gyan for the vital 2014 world cup qualifier against Zambia following his injury scare.

Appiah says he is hopeful Gyan will be absolutely fit to take part but will leave that decision till late. The country’s top striker trained on his own on Wednesday in Kumasi and Appiah is suggesting it was purely a matter of precaution.

“Asamoah had muscle cramp so we decided on the advice of the doctors that he should rest. He trained yesterday, today he will train and then we will see whether he will play. But I am hopeful”, Appiah said.

Gyan himself is optimistic. He says: “I felt pain in my muscle and I thought it was serious. The scan was good, the muscle was ok. I trained alone yesterday and everything went well. I am ready to face Zambia. Hopefully everything will be fine. I feel good to play on Friday.”

Gyan is hugely important to Ghana given the country’s reliance on him for goals. He scored three times in two world cup qualifiers away from home and says he is personally desperate to get one over the Zambians after two defeats on the bounce against the Southern Africans.

A third straight victory for Zambia over the Black Stars will guarantee them top spot in group D and take them through to the play-off stage of Africa’s world cup qualifying