Columbus Crew coach Porter provides injury return date for Ghana star Afful

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The Black and Gold's boss has revealed a detailed update on the fitness of the Ghana right-back

Ghana have received an injury boost ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as injured US-based fullback Harrison Afful is set to resume training by the end of the month.

The Columbus Crew right-back has been out of action since suffering a broken jaw during a Major Soccer League game against Atlanta United on March 30.

A return to practice before the end of the month will put him in a good position to be selected for the June 21 - July 19 Afcon, where the Black Stars have been drawn against Cup holders Cameroon, as well as Benin and Guinea-Bissau in Group F.

â€œThe biggest thing is he [Afful] kept his nutrition up. He didnâ€™t lose much [weight], which is rare. So thatâ€™s good,â€ Crew coach Caleb Porter said, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.

â€œHeâ€™s pretty much on track to be cleared a couple of days before New York City FC [on June 1], but thatâ€™s not including fitness.

"Thatâ€™s not including full contact and being in. So heâ€™ll need a couple of weeks still to be ready.â€

Ghana's hopes of ending their 37-year trophy drought but are currently facing a huge challenge by injuries to key players.

Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey is unlikely to make the team as he is just about finding his way back to fitness after picking up an injury while in league action in October last year.

Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp is similarly on his way back to full fitness after picking up an injury in April while Udinese centre-back Nicholas Opoku has been out of action since the same month.Â

The Turkey-based duo of captain Asamoah Gyan and left-back Lumor Agbenyenu only recently returned from injuries.Â

2019-05-17 23:00:04

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