Middlesbrough coach Aitor Karanka has questioned the decision by Ghana coach Avram Grant to exclude winger Albert Adomah from the Black Stars squad that finished second at the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
The wide man was not part of the Black Stars 23-man squad that played in the tournament in Equatorial Guinea even though he was part his country's team at the World Cup in Brazil about six months before this year's competition.
Adomah was disappointed to be dropped from Avram Grant’s squad just before last month’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Ghana were beaten in the final by Ivory Coast, but Karanka believes the wide man’s exclusion has spurred him on but believes he should have been part of the Black Stars in Equatorial Guinea.
"I think he deserved to go, because he’s a very good player but I don’t know what is happening with his national team,” Karanka said.
“I think it was good for him because it meant he was very committed here. He is a very important player for us, not just on the pitch but in the changing room as well.
“He’s a good character. He’s always joking but working hard. He’s a winner and his personality is good. For me, it was good he didn’t go, but he did deserve to."
Adomah scored his first goal since October in Tuesday night’s win over Bolton Wanderers at the Riverside Stadium, but it is the winger’s defensive duties that have earned praise from his Spanish head coach.
Karanka revealed the 27-year-old has been working to improve that side of his game recently and he filled in at right-back during the defeat to Leeds United.
In attacking terms, Adomah hasn’t quite hit the heights of last season when he scored 12 goals, but Karanka’s philosophy of building from the back has meant a change in the attacker’s role.
DO you think Adomah should have been part of Ghana's squad at the Africa Cup of Nations? Christian Atsu took his position. Do you think Avram made the right call in Atsu? Make your views known in the box below