World Cup countries have begun naming their squads for the tournament and there are some high-profile absentees
Tottenham Hotspur star Mohammed Kudus has been left out of Ghana's World Cup squad after failing to recover from injury. It's a blow for the Black Stars, who take on England in the group stage.
Kudus, 25, has scored 13 goals in 46 appearances for Ghana and netted twice for his nation at the previous World Cup. He also contributed two goals and two assists during qualifying for this edition, but has been unable to return to full fitness in time to secure a place in Carlos Queiroz's squad.
The winger joined Tottenham from West Ham last summer and had been a mainstay for club and country but has not featured since January owing to a hamstring injury. He suffered a frustrating setback while approaching full fitness in the spring, prompting Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi to deliver a concerning assessment in April.
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"Kudus, for this season, has gone," the Italian said in April. "I am sorry for him, first of all, because he is a good guy. Should be very important for us, but we lose time if we speak about the past."
That spell on the sidelines will now extend into the summer, with Queiroz naming a 28-man squad — which will be trimmed to 26 ahead of the World Cup's opening fixtures — with no room for Kudus. There is, however, a place for Ernest Nuamah, who made his return for club side Lyon in May following a year on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament tear.
Premier League and EFL clubs are also well represented within the Ghanaian contingent. Antoine Semenyo scored 17 goals for Bournemouth and Manchester City this season, while Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante is set to join him in the top flight next term. Leicester's Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu also make the cut despite the Foxes dropping down to League One.
Ghana are scheduled to face England in their second group stage fixture on June 23 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They open their campaign against Panama in Toronto before rounding off the group stage against Croatia in Philadelphia.
Former Real Madrid manager Queiroz only took charge in April following the sacking of Otto Addo. The former Borussia Dortmund man had been in his second stint at the helm and guided the side to World Cup qualification, but was dismissed following back-to-back defeats during the March international break.
While the African nation must trim their squad by two players ahead of naming their final selection, England have already confirmed their full 26-man group. Kudus' Tottenham team-mate Djed Spence has secured his place, however there is no room for colleagues Dominic Solanke and Conor Gallagher, despite both having received call-ups from Thomas Tuchel in the past 12 months.