Sunderland libero John Mensah has stated categorically that national team mate, Michael Essien's return to the Black Stars is in sight.

According to John, the Chelsea player has hinted that he will like to be in the national colours when Ghana cross swords with their colonial masters, England at Wembley on March 29.

However, the list of players called up by Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic for the match does not include the name of Essien.

Essien's decision for a national sabbatical has generated heated debates among the entire sporting fraternity with some questioning his patriotism, while others have called for his total banishment from the Black Stars.

But Black Stars skipper, John Mensah has appealed to the lovers of the sport to exercise restraint for the ace midfielder's return.

'Let's give Essien some time, he will definitely come back fully at the right time. He has been there for the nation over a decade,' he said on Black Stars Radio on Happy FM.

'He started with me in Mali 2002, all I can say regarding his return to the national team is that he has given me his word that he will play in the England Ghana friendly.

'Essien loves his country, we have to rally behind him and give him our support and encouragement,' he added.

'The England game is not a big deal, we have played big sides like Brazil and the rest. Moreover, we have good players, so we are not scared of the March 29 clash,' was his response to the enormity of the international friendly.

He however cautioned that the team should focus on the Congo-Ghana Nations Cup qualifier rather than the friendly game.

Below is the Ghana squad for the double header against Congo and England on March 27 and 29 respectively.

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Blackpool, England), Sammy Adjei (Hearts of Oak, Ghana) Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England) Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium) David Addy (Academica Coimbra, Portugal) Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England) Lee Addy (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Schalke 04, Germany), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Sulley Muntari (Sunderland, England) Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy) Andre Ayew (Marseille, France) Opoku Agyemang (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland, England) Prince Tagoe (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Dominic Adiyiah (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Nathaniel Asamoah (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)