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The Black Stars strategist has defended the exclusion of the new Southampton boy from the 23-man squad for next month’s friendly in Antalya.
Ghana coach Charles Akonnor said Mohammed Salisu was removed from his last squad to give him room to achieve top physical form at Southampton.
The 21-year-old has yet to play in the Premier League since completing a four-year contract with Real Valladolid in August.
After releasing his 23-man team for Ghana’s international friendly match against Mali in Turkey on October 9, Akonnor defended Salisu’s omission as he wants him to establish himself on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team.
“He’s not on the team because I heard his coach talk about him in terms of his physical condition,” Akonnor told the Ghaha FA website.
“They are watching October after the national games, before I return. Based on that, I want to give him a chance to kick back and get fit and start a game in Southampton and then we’ll be really looking forward to having him on board. “
Besiktas midfielder Bernard Mensah has been invited to return to the Black Stars configuration for the first time since 2015 and his last match dates back to a friendly against Canada.
After monitoring his progress in the Turkish Super Lig, Akonnor is looking to see the Accra-born star cement a spot in the middle of the park.
“After he came to play, we didn’t see him much, but now he’s proving to be good,” he said.
“He was in a club once and moved to Besiktas, which tells the whole story about him and I’ve seen him on several occasions and watched him closely.
“He’s one of the guys when given the opportunity and confidence can bring a change in the way we move forward. His style of play and the way he controls the game, I personally want to control the game in terms of possession and he, Partey and the rest are there to do that job and it is a great opportunity for him to come, play, do. good and stay and not go and come back ”.
A surprise invitation was given to 18-year-old Kamaldeen Sulemana, who has made a statement in the Danish Super League this year after making his professional debut with Nordsjaelland in February.
Sulemana finished the second half of the 2019-20 season with four goals in 13 games, and has appeared in his team’s first two league games this campaign.
Akonnor is excited about the promising talent and wants to quickly integrate it into Black Stars and learn from the Ayew brothers.
“A good player, young man and I think he needs patience and time. I think we have to start to develop and look to the next 4 or 5 years, these are the guys and once we can start with people like that, we will be motivating them little by little, “added the 46-year-old.
“We are not going to push them too hard, but to develop them slowly in the team. He reminds me of Jeremy Doku but sadly he went to Belgium.
“He has that kind of style and ability to play like him and I think you need to bring him to see him and also be around the team to see players like Dede Ayew, the captain, Jordan Ayew and others that will help him be a better player in the selection “.
