Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has lauded Thomas Partey as a once-in-a-generation talent, expressing Ghana’s longing for him on the field amidst his struggles with injuries.
The Arsenal midfielder has faced a challenging season, enduring a four-month hiatus due to a muscle injury sustained last October.
His absence was felt keenly during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, and he hasn’t featured for the Black Stars since October last year.
Speaking on Asempa FM, monitored by Footballghana.com, Gyan emphasized the significant gap left by Partey’s absence, attributing it to his exceptional talent and unfortunate injury setbacks.
“It’s regrettable that we’re without a player of Thomas Partey’s calibre. He possesses extraordinary talent, but injuries have hindered him this year. It’s not his fault,” Gyan remarked.
Gyan also defended Partey against undue criticism, highlighting the challenges of returning to form after a prolonged injury absence.
“Even upon his return, it will take time for him to reach his peak performance. Criticizing a player returning from injury is sometimes unfair,” Gyan added.
Partey recently made his comeback, featuring in three substitute appearances since his return from injury.
Having debuted for the Black Stars in 2016, the former Atletico Madrid star has amassed 47 caps and scored 13 goals for his national team.
He aims to reclaim his spot in the Black Stars’ lineup for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).
