Former Ghana youth handler J.E Sarpong has called on Black Stars coach Avram Grant to consider giving young strikers a chance since skipper Asamoah Gyan ‘is gradually fading out’.

Gyan, 29, has been the top striker for Ghana over a decade after making his debut in 2003 but has recently struggled with fitness, leading to dip in form.

“The Black Stars players have so much confidence in Gyan as the one who gets the goals in difficult times but other players are also in the system,” Sarpong told Asempa FM.

“Players like Mahatma Otoo, Ebenezer Assifuah and others can step in. It is about time we introduced young stars into the team gradually to get the confidence because if Assifuah can score against Liverpool at Anfield, so can he do when given the opportunity.

“Did Grant have the morale confidence to substitute Gyan when things were not going on well against Comoros? As you grow, your strength will go down and I think Gyan of the past is not the Gyan of today. That is why the coach needs to let someone under-study him and bring that person on when it matters.”

Gyan has scored 48 goals for Ghana after 95 appearances and he is two goals away to become only the fifth African player to score 50 goals on international stage for his country.