Fresh diagnoses have shown that Ghana midfielder Michael Essien's recovery from injury is back on track and will play for the Black Stars in the first World Cup qualifier against Benin. This picture shows how the Chelsea midfielder is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee ligament damage. Ghanasoccernet can confirm that he has made away with the clutches and even drives for his daily rehabilitation workout. The Chelsea midfielder, 25, has stepped up his rehabilitation programme with physio, Thierry Laurent in the gym even though he feared last month that that he could be out until March. But Essien is now hoping to return to action for the Blues early in the New Year to boost their Premier League challenge. If he does so, it will be four months earlier than originally thought, handing a boost to the Black Stars for their March date with Benin. Doctors had feared he would be out for the rest of the season after injuring his knee playing for Ghana against Libya in early September. Source: Sun and Ghanasoccernet reports