Accra, July 25, GNA – John Barnes, former Liverpool and England international player has asked Michael Essien to change his style of play to avoid the recurring injuries he is struggling with.

The Chelsea and Ghana Black Stars midfielder Essien has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and is expected to be sidelined for up to six months and Barnes believes a change in style of play could help the aggressive midfielder in his performance.

Barnes told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday, “Michael by far is Chelsea’s best player and I have no doubt that he will recover and be back to his best. However, he will want to consider changing his style of play to avoid injuries.

“He used to be a holding midfielder at Lyon but that style changed once he arrived at Chelsea. Now he is always running from pole to pole.

‘Though he has enough energy for that game, the injuries are becoming too many and it will be helpful to slow down a little, either he reverts to his former role or change his style of play.”

“There is no better player today to replicate Claude Makalele than Essien. Michael can continue to play like that if that is his dream but once the injuries keep recurring, a change of play in style could be just what he needs.”

The injury, the third in the midfielder's career will see him endure a lengthy lay-off.

The 28-year-old has not travelled with the rest of the Chelsea squad for their pre-season tour of Asia, and could miss the 28th edition of the next African Cup of Nations which starts in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

Chelsea has already said the midfielder who played only once at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola due to an injury he sustained at the Black Stars training will not be rushed back to action.

Essien subsequently missed the World Cup in the 2010 South Africa after he failed to race ahead of time in his battle with fitness.

The player took a break from international duty after that injury and only played his first game for his national team after the comeback when Ghana’s Black Stars beat Congo 3-0 in a Nations Cup qualifier at the Kumasi Stadium in May this year.