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Ghana is facing a serious player absence crisis with SIX key players are set to miss June's 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Injuries, suspensions and pre-mature international retirement have conspired against the Black Stars ahead of June's matches against Lesotho and African champions Zambia. Influential midfielder Andre Ayew and defender Jonathan Mensah have been ruled out of June matches after they both underwent surgeries becasue of injuries. Captain John Mensah is racing to be fit for the matches after suffering thigh injuries during February's Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Key central defender Isaac Vorsah will be serving a ban in their opening qualifying against Lesotho in Kumasi on 1 June. Midfielder Derek Boateng, who was sent off in their semi final match at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Zambia in February, will also be missing the Lesotho game. Striker Asamoah Gyan is uncertain for the matches as he is yet to rescind his decision to retire from the national team. New Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah must now find struggle to find replacement central defenders as John Boye and Lee Addy are the only reliable players available apart from those in the local league. A world-class replacement for Gyan is also a must if the Black Stars are to succeed in the qualifiers. Young strikers Abdul Majeed Waris, the leading scorer in the Swedish top-flight, Boakye Yiadom of Italian Serie B side Sassuolo and Kwame Nsor of French club Metz are strikers Ghana can count on. Midfielders Ishamel Yartey and Frank Messi Acheampong are the other reliable scorers who could be considered. The local league's top-scorer Emmanuel Baffour as well as composed scorer Mpong of Medeama are other players coach Appiah will consider. The Black Stars are seeking to make their third successive World Cup appearance after excelling in the 2006 and 2010 editions of the global tournament.