Bristol City pleads with Ghana FA over Antoine Semenyo role in Black Stars

Published on: 09 September 2022

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has urged the Ghana FA to be compassionate with game time for recovering Antoine Semenyo's involvement in the international friendly double-header against Brazil and Nicaragua this month.

The City gaffer wants the Ghanaian gaffer Otto Addo to ease him slowly into the team as he yet to recover fully from an injury which has seen him make substitute appearances.

Pearson fears any rush could further exacerbate the situation of the Ghana striker due to the nature of his injury.

Semenyo has been called up by the four-time African champions for an international friendly against South American giants Brazil as well as Central American nation Nicaragua.

The 22-year-old has scored three times in his four appearances from the substitute bench for City since he made an injury return.

The striker missed out of Bristol City's pre-season after he underwent a rehabilitation following an injury he picked while on international duty.

He is yet to start a game for following the shin injury he picked up while playing for Ghana in June this year.

Nigel Pearson has called for the Ghanaian FA to be sympathetic with Antoine Semenyo's game time during the international break as he continues his road to full fitness from injury.

And City manager Nigel Pearson has called on the Ghanaian FA to be compassionate with the striker as he continues his road to full fitness.

"We need to make sure that his recovery continues because the nature of his injury is really important that we are mindful of the amount of exposure," Pearson said.

Nigel Pearson has always been hugely supportive of Semenyo's international exploits, saying he would never stand in the way between the player and representing his country.

"Hopefully the Ghanaian FA will be sympathetic to our requirements and the player's requirements because I think Chris (Hughton, Ghana technical advisor) would like him fit for the World Cup and obviously Antoine wants to be available both for us and the national side so common sense should prevail.

"The World Cup is still a few months away which is continued recovery time so by the time he gets to that point, hopefully, we're not thinking by the same terms."

Ghana will have one more warm-up game against Switzerland in November before their tournament gets underway against Portugal.

They then play South Korea and Uruguay before determining whether they have progressed into the knockouts.

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