Chelsea’s Michael Essien could face weeks on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in Ghana’s 1-0 defeat to Libya yesterday.

Essien suffered the injury early in the first half of Ghana’s World Cup qualifier and was subbed on 22 minutes. Reports are already suggesting that the midfielder could be sidelined for around a month and the player himself has recognised that the injury is not just a minor knock.

“My injury? It is serious but I can be ready again soon,” Essien remarked after the game.

Just how soon is doubtful. Chelsea medical staff are set to assess the injury this week and it goes without saying that Essien is a major doubt for the trip to City next weekend. Ballack is also a doubt for that one having missed Germany’s internationals with a foot injury. Belletti therefore looks very likely to keep his place in the Chelsea midfield.

On that subject, I thought it was interesting that Scolari’s named his squad for the Champions League group matches earlier this week and Jon Obi Mikel in his B squad. Mikel is eligbile to play in the European games but this squad is normally the place to find “while young players who have been at Chelsea for a period of time” with the A squad the place to find the “majority of the first team squad”. This would seem to suggest that Scolari sees Belletti as long-term cover for the midfield holding role ahead of Mikel.