Asamoah Gyan wears his heart on his sleeve. As Ghana prepare for Tuesday’s showdown with Egypt, the Black Stars captain reveals how special it would be for him to play at the World Cup again and how he is enjoying football.

Some of the criticisms in the past took its toll on him. But forget the attacks now, Gyan has grown into a man who stands on the verge of doing something special for Ghana.

For the player who wears the number 3 at his back and in his hair, he is close to leading Ghana to a third-straight appearance, having already graced two World Cups.

Despite Ghana leading the tie 6-1 from last month's first-leg in Kumasi, Gyan knows there is still life left in Egypt.

“We’re desperate to get back to the World Cup, but we have to make sure we do things in the right way in the second leg,” Gyan said ahead of the return fixture on Tuesday in Cairo, calling for focus. “It’s football, so anything can happen.”

Football is a sport where heroes become villains. And Gyan is certainly aware of that by now.

He was criticised for his missed penalties at the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay in the quarter-finals and in last year’s Africa Cup of Nations against Zambia causing him to call time, temporarily, on his international career.

“We’re in a comfortable position right now, but we need to totally focus on our job and make sure we do what we have to do to reach Brazil. We have to do things the right way in Cairo,” the Black Stars captain said.

Gyan has put in strong performances in the qualifiers, scoring a brace against Egypt in the first leg and is the leading scorer for Ghana with six goals in five matches in the World Cup qualifying.

“My football career is going well right now,” he said.

“At international level I couldn’t be happier with how things are going for Ghana right now too. I’m enjoying my life and I’m enjoying the game,” he added.