Jeffery Schlupp: Crystal Palace star returns for Ghana for 2022 World Cup playoff clash with Nigeria |

Crystal Palace star Jeffrey Schlupp has been named in the Ghana squad for the World Cup playoff against Nigeria later this month.

The former Leicester City midfielder last played for the Black Stars in November 2019 in the World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia in Cape Coast.

READ: Jeffrey Schlupp blames a “sloppy” start to the second-half for Crystal Palace draw against Burnley

He picked up an hamstring injury and returned to his club for recovery.

Schlupp missed Ghana’s squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations due to the injury.

After an impressive run in the Premier League for Crystal Palace, the 29-year-old has received an invite from the Black Stars technical team for the doubleheader against Nigeria.

Black Stars interim Otto Addo is expected to name his squad in the coming days for the crucial encounter.

Ghana host Nigeria in the first leg on March 25 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium before traveling to Abuja for the second leg on March 29 at the Mashood Abiola Stadium.

Schlupp blames Palace teammates for Burnley draw

Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp blamed a “sloppy” start to the second-half for Crystal Palace only taking a point against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

The Palace man played high up the pitch against the Clarets and managed to score after just nine minutes, stretching to turn home a Michael Olise cross.

His effort put Palace in control, and the south Londoners looked bright and dominant throughout the first-half. But, he says, they “started the second-half really sloppy,” which allowed Burnley to pull level after less than a minute.

Speaking with the press post-match, Schlupp said: “We went 1-0 up in the first-half and started the second-half really sloppy. They scored the goal and I thought it was a bit of a scrappy game in the end and a well-earned point.”

Asked what he thought Palace did well, and what they should or could have done better, Schlupp suggested capitalising on their first 45 was key.“I thought we started well,” he reflected. “We started on the front foot, had a couple of half-chances, some good moments and managed to get the goal we wanted. I think we probably needed to try and kill the game off in the first-half, to be honest.

“We had some good moments. In the second-half of course we had some good chances but I thought it was probably a bit of a 50/50 second-half and a draw was a fair result.

“We worked so hard for it in the first-half and to come out and start the second-half the way we did is not acceptable. We got punished straight await. We know what the Premier League is like and what Burnley are going to bring and they came up for it and it was a good battle in the end.”

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