Essien makes first team return for Chelsea in Sunderland win

Published on: 14 January 2012

Michael Essien made a return to Chelsea's first team in their 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

The Ghana midfielder came on for Frank Lampard in the 73rd minute and almost immediately affected the game with a dragged effort two minutes later.

It was the first appearance of the 29-year-old this season after injuring his knee in pre-season which has kept him sidelined for six-months.

Essien's return will certainly serve a massive boost to Chelsea and is made even more crucial with the absence of key players who are away on international duty for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The midfielder is of course not part of Ghana's squad for the tournament which kicks off on January 21 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

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