Exodus of players in England to Ghana with the African Cup of

Ghana hosts the 2008 tournament which runs from 20 January - 10 February, with holders Egypt looking to retain their crown.

Around 40 Premier League players could leave the domestic season in England to link up with their national team.

Portsmouth could be most affected with five of Harry Redknapp's squad likely to be called up for national duty.

Chelsea will also be heavily burdened by the competition with four members of Avram Grant's squad set to fly out to Ghana.

Egypt won the tournament in 2006, beating the Ivory Coast on penalties and Middlesbrough could lose Mohamed Shawky and Mido to the holders.

The exodus could spark much activity in the January transfer window with Redknapp and Grant already stating that they are likely to bring in fresh faces to cover for the players heading out to Ghana.

Only four Premier League clubs (Aston Villa, Derby County, Fulham and Manchester City) are not affected by the tournament.
Premier League players likely to be playing in the 2008 African Nations Cup:


ARSENAL
Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alexandre Song (Cameroon)


BIRMINGHAM
Richard Kingson (Ghana), Mehdi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)


BLACKBURN
Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)


BOLTON
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Abdoulaye Meite (Ivory Coast)


CHELSEA
John Obi Mikel (Nigeria), Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana)


EVERTON
Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria), Steven Pienaar (South Africa)


LIVERPOOL
Nabil El-Zhar (Morocco), Muhammed Sissoko (Mali)


MANCHESTER UNITED
Manucho (Angola)*


MIDDLESBROUGH
Mohamed Shawky and Mido (Egypt)


NEWCASTLE
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon), Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye (Senegal)


PORTSMOUTH
Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal), Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka (Nigeria), Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Lauren (Cameroon)


READING
Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal)


SUNDERLAND
Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)


TOTTENHAM
Hossam Ghaly (Egypt), Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)


WEST HAM UNITED
John Pantsil (Ghana), Henri Camara (Senegal)


WIGAN
Salomon Olembe (Cameroon), Julius Aghahowa (Nigeria)

Aston Villa, Derby County, Fulham, Manchester City currently have no involvement in the African Nations Cup.