By Ameenu Shardow
Follow on Twitter @alooameenu
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic remains adamant that Asamoah Gyan needs more time to regain his prolific form after extending his barren run since his return from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 29-year-old looked out of sorts in Al Ain’s goalless draw in their opening Asian Champions League game at home to Al Shabab.
Gyan has now gone two games without scoring since his return from the 2015 AFCON where he helped Ghana attain a silver-medal feat in Equatorial Guinea.
The former Sunderland hitman played the entire tournament without full fitness with illness and injury taking its toll.
The Black Stars captain now appears blunt on his return to club duties where he has been very prolific over the past three years.
Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic admits his leading striker is struggling with his form bit says he needs time to rediscover himself.
"Gyan is a big player is the best striker the league for three consecutive seasons and the best scorer of the African continent and the AFC Champions League in 2014,” Dalic said after the Champions League draw with Al Shabab.
“But he stayed away for two months from the team and needs time to regain the form prior to joining the Ghana squad.”
Al Ain have not won a match since Gyan’s return even though they remain much in contention to win laurels in both the domestic league and in Asia.