Chelsea pledge to support Mikel

Chelsea have vowed to give John Obi Mikel their full support after it emerged that his father is missing in the player’s native Nigeria.

Mikel played in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Stoke on Sunday despite knowing that his father Michael is believed to have been abducted.

Michael Obi runs a transport company in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria, and has not been seen or heard from since leaving work on Friday.

A Chelsea statement read: “Everyone at Chelsea Football Club was very concerned to hear that John Mikel Obi’s father has been reported as missing and possibly abducted.

“We will give Mikel and his family our full support at this most difficult time.”

Earlier, the midfielder’s management company, Sport Entertainment and Media Group, issued a statement confirming that Mikel’s father was unaccounted for.

SEM’s statement added: “Thus far no ransom (demand) has been received. Mikel was informed by his manager prior to the Stoke v Chelsea match and decided to play so as not to let down his team and family.”

Mikel has no immediate plans to return to Nigeria and has trained with the rest of the Chelsea squad, but it is not yet clear whether he will play against West Brom on Saturday.

He is not the first Premier League player to have a family member abducted in Nigeria.

In 2008 the brother of Everton defender Joseph Yobo was released 10 days after being kidknapped.