Bristol City boss backs Albert Adomah’s Ghana ambitions

Bristol City manager Keith Millen is encouraging star winger Albert Adomah to pursue his international ambitions.

Voted City’s player of the year last season, the 22-year-old Londoner, has made himself available for Ghana after being approached by representatives of the Black Stars.

Adomah’s parents were born in Ghana and the winger, who travelled to Africa for further meetings last month, has made no secret of his ambition to play on the international stage.

Although he risks losing one of his best players to the African Nations Cup next January, Millen insisted he will not stand in Adomah’s way if he is called up to the national squad.

He said: “It’s great for Albert and I’m pleased he might get international recognition. That means we must be doing something right with the lad.

“Unfortunately, Ghana do go away in January for a long period of time and that is not an ideal situation for us.

“But I would certainly encourage any of my players to play for their country, because it means they are doing well.

“Were Albert to be called up, it would be good publicity for Bristol City and for the player.

“We’ll have to wait and see, but if Albert comes back in pre-season and keeps improving his game, then he will be in with a chance.”

Adomah earned rave reviews in his first season in the Championship after joining City from Barnet 12 months ago, and his performances brought him to the attention of Ghana national coach Goran Stevanovic.

Assistant manager Kwasi Appiah made overtures to the City winger towards the end of last season and, although Adomah was not included in the 31-man squad to contest an All Africa Games qualifier against Nigeria later this month, he hopes to compete for a place in the squad to contest the African Nations Cup, which is to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January 2012.