Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is on the verge of recapturing the assertiveness that characterized his goalscoring form after netting four gaols-Ligue 1's joint topscorer- for Rennes in the early stages of the season.
Things are looking up for the Ghana striker, who has a second World Cup finals appearance to look forward to with the Black Stars.
Gyan, 23, scored twice at the weekend in Rennes' 4-0 away demolition of bottom club Grenoble, a result which maintained the Breton club's unbeaten start to the season.
His first of the game was the fastest goal seen this season in Ligue 1, coming after just 19 seconds.
New coach Frédéric Antonetti, who replaced Guy Lacombe this summer, has helped Gyan get back to the sort of form which saw Rennes splash out 8 million euros to sign him from Serie A outfit Udinese in the summer of 2008.
Gyan spent the ensuing campaign battling injury niggles and a system which did not bring the best out of him. He finished the season with a solitary goal from his 16 Ligue 1 appearances.
Gyan: "Last season was tough"
Gyan said: "Last season was tough. I was often injured, and it was a never-ending story. I'm happy to have been able to put a run of games together without getting injured. It's a big relief. The current coach is far more attacking than the old one. Guy Lacombe's priority was defence and I'm a forward."
Ex-Nice coach Antonetti had no hesitation in handing Gyan the central attacking role in his 4-3-3 formation, a move which removed the need to delve into the transfer market.
"When I looked at the squad I discovered 'Asa', who I didn't know, by watching videos," said Antonetti. "We already had our centre-forward right here, so there was no point in going out and finding one."
Generosity
Gyan spent the summer working hard with Rennes' fitness coach Karl Chaory on Ghanaian beaches to give him every chance of living up to his transfer fee, albeit a year after his arrival.
His first goal of the season, a penalty against Nice, owed something to the generosity of his new team-mate Ismaël Bangoura.
"I asked him to let me take it," admitted Gyan. "I wanted to boost my confidence. I was playing well without managing to score, so I was sad. Goalscoring is my job.
Four goals is good and my confidence is coming back."
World Cup with Black Stars:
Gyan has also been on the goals trail with Ghana. Two in a 4-3 friendly defeat to Japan on September 9 took his tally to 13 in 27 games for his country.
Three days prior to that Gyan came on as a substitute as Ghana beat Sudan 2-0 to qualify for their second successive World Cup.
Gyan already has a special place in Ghanaian football history. As a precocious 19-year-old in Germany three years ago he scored Ghana's first ever World Cup goal, 68 seconds in to a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic.
Back to fitness, and with the goals flowing there is every chance that Gyan will shine in South Africa next year.
"I've nothing left to prove," said Gyan. "Back home, people know who I am and what I'm worth. I just need to be fit to be there."
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