Dubai: Legendary Ghanaian footballer Abedi Pele has backed countryman Asamoeh Gyan to answer the call of national duty whenever he is wanted in the future.

"I don't think his resignation from the national team is a problem. He will definitely come back for the sake of Ghana. He will answer the call of national duty," Pele told media here on Monday.

"He [Gyan] was disappointed with that penalty miss [during the African Cup of Nations]. But this is football and such things do happen. You take your time to ponder, charge your batteries and then move on again. I think that is going to happen in his case. Gyan will come back for Ghana. The nation needs him," Pele said.

The African legend disclosed that he keeps in touch with Gyan. "I have spoken to him a couple of times since I came. He told me what is happening to him in Al Ain and how the people love him," he related.

"What he is doing is a good thing for Africans. We and the Arabs have a common culture, just like in the East. We believe in family ties and the sense of togetherness. And I think coming here makes it easier for him as he likes to see people and have contact with them, and that makes him a good player and a better person," Pele added.

He was pleased Gyan has been doing well in the etisalat Pro League while emerging as the highest scorer so far this season. And Pele saw no reason why Gyan should not be wanted by clubs in Europe in the near future. "I also played here at the start of my career [in Qatar] and then moved on to Europe to become one of the greatest players then. I don't think this is the end of Gyan's career. He is going to benefit from this experience and then move on to bigger things and become one of the big players in Europe," Pele offered.

"Gyan started off in Europe and now he has come here for the experience. He is still young. He has so many years before him. I hope he is going to do well here, and if there is a possibility for him to move back to Europe then he would do so."