Michael Essien tackles Manchester City's Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure

Ukraine-based Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom is delighted to see his close friend and international teammate Michael Essien return to action.

Essien made his full debut for Real Madrid on Tuesday night in their UEFA Champions League come-from-behind 3-2 win over English champions Manchester City at the Bernabeu.

The Bison was named in the starting line-up and preferred to Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric and Kaká in a 4-3-2-1 formation that had Ronaldo marauding from the left.

Essien gave it his best shot in his first game of the season but was replaced by Ozil after 65 minutes when the score line was 0-0.

After the thrilling contest, Inkoom posted on his official twitter page: “I’m happy for Michael Essien for his first game win! It was a great game, like a final.”

Essien’s return to competitive football can revive his international career ahead of next year’s African Nations Cup finals in South Africa.

The 29-year-old suffered two serious of knee injuries the past two years and he is yet to regain his former self.

He has not played for Ghana since June 2011 when he featured in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Congo in Kumasi.

Source: MTNFootball.com