Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has urged the dithering FA to make Jose Mourinho new England manager.

Essien, 25, said: "Frankly, I don't know why the FA are delaying over Mourinho.

"They should get him now to coach the team and get England back to where it belongs - on top of world football.

"Having worked under him I know he is the man to help the team regain its confidence, like he did many times at Chelsea.

"I know that Mourinho will help England win the World Cup when all hope is lost.

"Jose will be very good for England. We all know what Jose is made off and how he can turn everything he touches into gold.

"He did that with Porto when no one gave them a chance to win the Champions League.

"He turned Chelsea into a title-winning team and I am sure he will restore the belief and win trophies for England."

Essien admits he was stunned by England's Euro 2008 disaster and said he even went off his food when they crashed against Croatia.

He added: "Apart from my national team, I follow England and I have since I was a child.

"I was religiously following the Croatia game when I was in Ghana for the international break. It was a sad moment and I felt very bad for my English team-mates and the English people when they lost.

"I even lost my appetite.

"It's a shame because England have the talent and could have done well. But that's football."