Thomas Partey opts out of Nigeria/Ghana friendly
Ghana international and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has opted out of the forthcoming Nigeria vs Ghana friendly billed for Marrakech, Morocco. Partey who was a major contributor to Black Stars qualifying for the last World cup in Qatar requested to be left out as builds his fitness back up following a severe thigh injury.
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The former Atletico Madrid man spent over four months in the medical bay with the issue, which was described by former Black Stars boss Chris Hughton as the most severe he had ever suffered in his career.
Partey’s injury required surgery to correct, and he was subsequently left out of the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, where his nation failed to win any of their group-stage games and bowed out at the first hurdle.
Flash back: Thomas Partey in an ambitious header during Nigeria/Ghana match in Abuja.
Having then returned to team training only to suffer another complication, Partey finally took to the field again in Arsenal colours earlier this month, playing 25 minutes of their 6-0 win over Sheffield United.
The 30-year-old was then brought on as a late substitute against Brentford five days later and was included in the squad for their Champions League last-16 second leg with Porto, although he failed to make it off the bench in that encounter.
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Owing to his return to domestic duty, Partey would have been eligible for an international call-up this month, as Ghana take on Nigeria and Uganda in a pair of friendlies in Morocco.
Returnee coach Otto Addo did not name parteh in his 26-man squad for the upcoming exhibition fixtures, and Ghana subsequently confirmed that he had asked to be left out in order to continue his recuperation with Arsenal.
Partey has come up with five goals and four assists in 106 matches for the Premier League leaders since joining in 2020, but he has missed a further 74 matches for club and country in that time.