Blues extend crocked star’s contract

Chelsea have handed crocked midfielder Michael Essien a new contract. The muscular Ghanaian has hardly featured for the Blues this year after picking up a serious knee injury while on African Nations Cup duty in February. The injury has also kept him out of the forthcoming World Cup. But such is the esteem in which he is held at Stamford Bridge that the club have moved to extend his contract by two-years until 2015. "I am delighted because the club has shown big confidence and interest in me," said Essien on Friday. "I am looking forward to coming back and enjoying my football and winning more trophies with the club," he added. The 27-year-old Essien joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2005.