Accra Hearts of Oak midfield general, Emmanuel Nettey has responded to the accolades he is getting as the perfect replacement for former Chelsea and Real Madrid player Michael Essien.

Nettey who signed for the Phobians at the start of the now-cancelled 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League was tipped by former Hearts of Oak captain Esme Papa Mends as the next Michael Essien due to his incredible display when on the pitch.

“He [Nettey] is the next Michael Essien if we manage him well. If he is encouraged, he will be the next Essien” Mends told CK Television on Youtube.

Emmanuel Nettey, however in an interview with GhanaWeb's Perez Erzoah Kwaw on Sports Check said adding Essien's qualities to his game can make him greater than the latter.

"Michael Essien and Esme Mends are both my idols but I'm Emmanuel Nettey and I'm unique in my own way. The tags are going to come, he is Michael Essien, one of the biggest stars in Ghana."

"I'm very happy to be tagged around him but I have my own style of play and I just need to take the positives from Essien's game and I think I can even be bigger better than him if I add it to my game."

Nettey also labelled Hearts of Oak defender Robert Addo Sowah as his best friend in the current Phobian team.

"I will say Robert Addo because I played with him at Pure Joy FC before I left so I already had that relationship with him before joining Hearts of Oak and he is more like a brother to me." Emmanuel Nettey told GhanaWeb's Sports Check.