Ghana’s preparation for the final 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi got a massive boost after defender Jonathan Mensah returned from injury.

The 22-year-old played his first competitive match for French top-flight side Evian in eight months on Saturday after a long injury lay-off.

Memsah has been in the treatment room since he aggravated a thigh injury in February after the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

With the centre-back regaining his fitness, he will be available for coach Kwesi Appiah ahead of the away game, giving the Black Stars boss several strong options at the heart of the defence.

Mensah was a beneficiary of the six changes made by new Evian coach Pascal Dupraz which resulted in their first league win beating Bastia 3-0 at the Parc des Sports on Saturday.

The centre-back last the entire duration of the match which saw 36-year-old Cédric Barbosa bagged a brace and a single from Yannick Sagbo.

Mensah moved to Evian TG in the summer of 2011 and has managed only two appearances in the French top-flight.