Considered as one of the players that forms the spine of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah says he is up for the challenge for a place in the national team. The Ghana captain has managed to overcome a difficult two years, first getting sidelined for a year through injury before his struggles to find a club. Appiah recently pulled out of Ghana's two World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Sudan due to family problems. And in his absence a couple of players stepped in to help the team’s course to record two impressive away victories. Players like Kwadwo Asamoah and Opoku Agyemang have suddenly become key members of the squad due to their recent performances. Speaking on national television on Monday, the Black Stars captain is positive about standing up to the challenge for a position in the team. “Asamoah has been playing well in Italy and everyone knows how good he is. It’s very important for Ghana to have him playing at this level and I believe more will come from him. “I watched Opoku Agyemang first when he played against Uganda in the friendly in Tamale and he put such a good performance. He has lots of energy, said the Ghana captain. For Appiah, the performances of these players augur well for the Blacks Stars and says Ghana needs a far bigger pool of players just like big clubs do. “We don’t have to leave them aside. We have to support them. I think that if they give them the encouragement and the confidence, they would be there. “ “That’s why a big club would always be a big club because when there is competition, everyone goes to training and wants to get a position in the team, so people take the training serious. They proved a point and if we come in, we have to justify ourselves,” Appiah said. The Ghana captain has also praised the methods of Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac, whom he describes as ‘a loyal man.’ “He is a loyal man, a nice man when he comes to training. He always sticks to his time and takes it serious and after that we can joke and do lots by ourselves, we love him. "He is an honest man. He knows how to do the job.” Source: Ghanafa.org