Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Salomon Kalou has re-emphasised the importance of Black Stars' Michael Essien to the Chelsea team, saying he reassures the entire Chelsea squad. Kalou is in Accra with the Ivorian National team to play Benin at the Accra Sports stadium this Sunday after the 2012 African Cup of Nation’s qualifier between the two West African nations was relocated to Ghana due to the political unrest in Ivory Coast. In an interview with Citi FM, Kalou described his Chelsea teammate as a dedicated player who works for the team. He said Essien “always brings that positive energy working for the team, always doing great, hard work for the team so I think it is very important to have this kind of player in the team because he reassures the striker [and] the midfielders…He is an unselfish player who is going to fight for the team.” “[Essien] is my friend, my good friend so I am happy to see him back to top level. He had a difficult time with injury the past year so it’s good for the team - for Chelsea- to see Essien back in the team and also for himself because I think he deserves a better situation,” he stressed. Asked whether he sees Essien returning to the Black Stars in the near future, Kalou’s response was: “He is back to fitness now so I think, you know when you’ve been out for almost a year without playing football you don’t want to start playing every game and get tired again and go back. You have to have a good recovery so I think he will come when he thinks it is the right moment to come.” Since returning to full fitness in September last year, Michael Essien has sought permission to get over the disappointing injury that saw him miss the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He has since not featured for the Black Stars even though he has played almost every game this season for Chelsea. Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana