Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac says the World Cup NEEDS a fit Michael Essien.

The 27-year-old Chelsea midfielder missed a large part of the recently-concluded season due to knee and ankle injuries and has hardly played any competitive football since December.

It has made him a major doubt for the trip to South Africa and his national boss is hoping he will be fit.

He told the Ghana Football Association (GFA) website: "Essien is an important player, not only for Ghana but for the World Cup.

"He is one of the best players in the world and the World Cup is an assembly of the best.

"Ghana wants him there, the organisers want him there and the world wants him there.

"Argentina is going and people want to see (Lionel) Messi, Portugal is going and people want to see (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Ghana is going and people want to see Essien."