Michael Essien will be healthy for Ghana this summer. (Photo: ZumaPress)

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Ghanian soccer is exhaling with the knowledge that Michael Essien will return in May.

Wait - wasn't he supposed to be back already?

The all-world midfielder suffered a knee hamstring injury (note) in December, starting a meaningless Champions League group stage match against APOEL of Cyprus.  Why somebody like Michael Essien was playing in such a match is a question that has not been asked enough.  During recovery, he suffered a knee injury and has encountered a number of complications during his recovery.

Suffice to say, his absence has been felt at Chelsea, though credit is due Carlo Ancelotti for finally figuring out how to compensation for his December mistake.

When his knee was originally injured, it was though Essien could be read for the Cup of Nations.  Nope.

Then it was thought he could return for Champions League knock-out stages.  No.

There were murmurs that Essien would be back shortly after the Manchester United match, but that didn't happen either, and now we see the Ghanian view happy to have him back at all.

Essien is going to be one of the most important players at the World Cup.  There may be no other player in the tournament that will be the key to his team's offense and defense.  Such is the case for the Black Stars.

With so much resting on a player that has had a number of surgeries in the last year, Ghana is a precarious choice.  They are still my pick to win their group and make it far in the tournament.

How far?  I encourage you to look at the bracket and see what kind of run they would have in the knock-out stage should they finish first in their group.

It could be a historic tournament.

But I'm off track.  The point:  Essien will be back, but shouldn't he have been back sooner?