Essien set for WC agony

Michael Essien’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread as he struggles to overcome knee knack. The combative midfielder has been out since January but had hoped to make a long awaited return against Stoke this weekend. But this now looks unlikely which also casts a massive shadow over his dreams of starring for Ghana in South Africa. "I'm taking it day by day and if I can make it I will," the 26-year-old said on his official website. "The World Cup is the best and most difficult football tournament in the world and I would rather be there fully fit." He added: "We will just have to wait and see. If not I'll have to sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian." Ghana's first game of the World Cup is against Serbia on 13 June.