London, Dec 10 (DPA) Chelsea are likely to be without midfielder Michael Essien until February, it emerged Thursday.
A scan late Wednesday revealed a hamstring tear that will rule him out for three to four weeks, by which time he will have joined up with the Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations.

Essien sustained the injury stretching for a loose ball in Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with APOEL Nicosia.

Chelsea will negotiate with Ghana to try to persuade them not to invoke the full two-week preparation period to which they are entitled.

But with fellow midfielder and captain Stephen Appiah of Bologna struck down with a calf injury that is also expected to heal only in the week leading up to the finals in Angola, Ghana are expected to want the maximum possible time to assess their two stars.