How Ghana legend Essien inspired new Plymouth star Baidoo

"From time to time we keep in touch," Ghana's newest recruit to English football says of one of his country's most famous names.

Attacking midfielder Michael Baidoo has swapped the snow and forests of Swedish side Elfsborg for the docks and seaside at Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

The 25-year-old became the club's record signing when he moved to the Pilgrims earlier this month in a deal reportedly worth over £1.5m.

It was his dream to play in England and to follow in the footsteps of his hero - the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder Michael Essien.

Baidoo says Essien, who won a Champions league, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Chelsea, has been giving him advice.

"Stay humble and keep working hard because you don't see it but people do see it," Baidoo told the BBC World Service was Essien's main tip for him.

"If people will see it I have to keep working hard, and in the end it will pay off - that's what he did.

"He was humble and kept working hard, and he's a legend now."

Baidoo had been close to a move to Plymouth in the summer, but Elfsborg's progress in the Europa League put his move to England on hold.

He scored five goals in the group stage this year, including the winning penalty in a 1-0 victory over Italian giants Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, where the Ghanaian was also Elfsborg's captain.

"That was a great moment. That's my best football moment," he says.

"Playing against Roma, being the captain, being the match winner, it was a huge one for the whole of Sweden.

"To put the club on the map again, it was a huge one."

He now faces arguably an even bigger task - trying to help Plymouth Argyle stay in the Championship.

The Pilgrims are bottom of the English second tier and parted company with their head coach - the former England captain and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney - shortly before Baidoo's arrival.

He made his debut in Argyle's famous 1-0 FA Cup win at Premier League side Brentford on Saturday before introducing himself to the home fans in a 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Tuesday.

"We have a big task ahead now," he adds.

"I think we're going to have to take it each game at a time.

"We can't focus on the end, we need to focus on what's in front of us.

"So right now I'm going to work hard, try to get the maximum points as soon as possible to get up from the position we are right now."

Baidoo says it has been his childhood dream to play in England, and the Premier League is his aim.

If he can help Plymouth Argyle stay in the Championship he may well be one step closer to that aim - and possibly helping Ghana's national team along the way.