Ghana international Michael Essien has stressed that he needs to up his ante at AC Milan as the Rossoneri struggle to find their foot in the Serie A.

The ‘Bison’ joined Clarence Seedorf’s side in January from Chelsea in a bid to earn more game time ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as well as propel the Rossoneri to a respectable position on the log.

The Ghanaian has said he needs to prove a point in Italy and it will take a great deal of commitment to get things going.

“I think it's important to be able to fully demonstrate my value as a player and as a man,” Essien told the club's Forza Milan magazine. “If we are to reach our goals it will be the result of the work that we put in every day on the training pitch.”

Essien made his fifth appearance for the struggling Italian side on Sunday against Lazio in a 1-1 draw game.