Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has opened up about his career journey, emphasising the obstacles he had to overcome to reach the top level of football.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Blues from Leicester City, has been a key figure in Enzo Maresca’s midfield this season, but his path to success has been anything but straightforward.

“I am a player that has a huge amount of self-belief, and I think that is because of my journey and what I have had to face,” Dewsbury-Hall revealed.

“I have had nothing come easy to me. In the academy, some lads get fast-tracked, some lads don’t. I was never that lad. I never got extra bonuses. I had to work for every single thing I got and that moulded me into the person I am today. It makes me so determined and motivated to keep improving.”

That relentless determination has been evident in his performances for Chelsea of late. The midfielder has made 20 appearances in all competitions, contributing three goals and two assists as he continues to grow into being an important part of Maresca’s system.