.... Muntari Finds It Hard To Leave
Michael Essien will fly to Ghana's training camp in Dubai this weekend after being ruled out of Chelsea's FA Cup match against QPR through suspension, but Chelsea are hopeful of welcoming him back to play one more match for them before the African Cup of Nations starts on January 20.

Chelsea have an excellent relationship with the Ghanaian FA after a charity visit to Accra last year and have asked that Essien be allowed to return from the Middle East to play in the Barclays Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 14 before flying to Ghana for the opening game of the tournament against Guinea six days later.

Essien is keen to return despite the intense travelling demands and the request is being considered.

Muntari Finds It Hard To Leave

Muntari, who will spearhead Ghana's challenge on home soil, is looking forward to the tournament but concedes he is loath to leave Fratton Park and hopes future events can be held at a different time.

Pompey's ?7.2million record signing said: "Because we are doing so well at Portsmouth it is a bit like having to turn off the good music just because your mother has come into the room.

"But there is no higher honour than being picked for your country and in Ghana we have a special responsibility because we are the hosts - and one of the favourites.

"It is still hard, though, to leave your club when the results and performances have been so good.

"We can only hope that something is worked out for the future. I believe the African federation know what they are doing."

Pompey have done their best to hang onto their players as long as possible, taking advantage of a FIFA ruling that states clubs only have to release players 14 days before a tournament starts.
Chief executive Peter Storrie is also in negotiations to try to delay their departures until after next week's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland.
Storrie said: "I know it has not gone down well with the African international managers but we are still talking to the nations involved, hoping to keep the players a little longer.
"Our priority is the club, of course, and we stand to be without these players for a considerable time."
Redknapp now intends to bring in some players on loans or free transfers to bolster his squad and maintain their push for a UEFA Cup place.
The FA Cup presents another route to Europe, of course, and Pompey have been drawn against the side they beat 1-0 at the same stage of the competition at Portman Road two years ago.