Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng has called time on his international career, insisting it’s time to pave way for younger players.

The 34-year-old was handed his debut with the Black Stars in the mid-2000s after starring at youth level with Ghana’s U-20 side, the Black Satellites.

Boateng has however struggled to break into the Black Stars set-up since 2012, when he was included in Ghana’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon.

READ ALSO: Managerial reshuffle looms at Hearts, Togbe Afedi warns

A combination of injuries and inactiveness at club level have now forced the former Fulham anchorman to call time on his international career, after nearly a decade of service to the Black Stars.

The former youth star described his stint with the Black Stars as “the best thing ever”, while adding that it was always an “honour” and a “blessing” to wear the national team jersey.

Confirming his retirement from the Black Stars in an interview with Ghanaweb.com, Boateng said: “Now the game has become very fast, it is for very young players and we have plenty of them in the national team now.

READ ALSO: Wa All Stars coach blames semifinal loss to Hearts on officiating

“I have had my time and it was the best time of my career. But the time has come for us to give a chance to other people, so for me I have no desire to play for the Black Stars again.”

Boateng won 47 caps for Ghana, and was a member of the Black Stars squad that played at the 2006 and 2010 world cups in Germany and Sout