John Paintsil has highlighted the importance of Michael Essien to the Ghana team as the midfielder begins a long countdown to action from injury.

Essien is expected to be out for six months after undergoing a successful surgery on his right knee following injury suffered last week in training with Chelsea.

The absence means, Essien, who only returned to the Black Stars team last month after a one-year time off international football, would miss Ghana's remaining matches in the Group I qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup.

"We would certainly miss him. Every team would miss the quality of a player like Essien," Paintsil said Wednesday, on TV 3.

“We lost him during 2010 and it’s very painful he has to go through such an experience again but he’s a hardworking guy and he’ll get well soon.”

"I believe that if we had him in the team during the 2010 World Cup, we would have gone farther than the quarter-finals. He is a great player for us."

Paintsil believes Essien has a strong character to overcome the setback.

"He is a strong player and nobody can stop him when he wants to play. It's difficult for every player to go out injured. But I trust him [Essien] to get back quickly.

"I know he would work hard to get back and we are only hoping for that."