Injured Joe joins up with Ghana squad

FORMER Swindon, Forest Green and Bristol City goalkeeper Joe Wollacott is heading to Qatar to join his Ghana teammates despite injury cruelly ruling him out of the World Cup.

The 26-year-old Charlton stopper had emerged as the Black Stars’ number one over the last year and would have started for Otto Addo’s side in Qatar.

However, Wollacott was denied his opportunity on the big stage by sustaining a finger injury on the final weekend before the global tournament.

He has had surgery on his fractured finger and has headed out to the Middle East ahead of Ghana’s opener against Portugal tomorrow. According to the Ghana FA, his involvement will help motivate his colleagues as they look to upset the odds against Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.

A statement posted on their official website read: “Wollacott will join the team base in Qatar for the match against Portugal.”

The Bristol-born gloveman has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the international stage after leaving City. He spent 12 years in BS3 having come through the club’s academy and had nine loan spells in non-League and the EFL before leaving for Swindon in the summer of 2021.

He earned his first call-up to the national side 13 months ago in a 3-1 World Cup qualification win over Zimbabwe and has since cemented his position in the side. Last summer, he joined Charlton on a free transfer where he had continued to impress.