Asamoah Gyan is standing by his decision to take a break from international football but hopes his exile will enable him to come back stronger.

Gyan announced his intention to temporarily quit the international stage after receiving personal abuse for missing a vital penalty in Ghana's 1-0 defeat to Zambia in the African Nations Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

He also missed a last-gasp spot-kick in Ghana's quarter-final loss to Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Ghanian Football Association have urged Gyan to change his mind but the 26-year-old, on loan at United Arab Emirates side Al Ain from Sunderland, feels a break will benefit both parties.

He wrote on Twitter: "Firstly it's important that I express my sincere apologies to my country. I never intended to make a decision like this early on in my career.

"Psychologically I am down. As you can imagine it's been very hard for me mentally to miss two important successive penalties for my country.

"And because of this a break to recoup my thoughts and emotions will aid me to come back bigger and mentally stronger.

"I never fully recovered from 2010 World Cup and now 2012 AFCON.

"I want my country to know I love playing for them and I wouldn't be who I am without them."