New Chelsea signing Steve Sidwell is confident of establishing himself at Stamford Bridge.

Former Reading midfielder Sidwell said on Chelsea TV: "Newcastle were interested, but when a team like Chelsea comes in, there was only one decision to make and I believe I made the right one.

"There were a lot of questions to be answered and the main one was 'Am I going to play?' The manager said I was going to get a chance and I wasn't here simply to make up the numbers. All I want is an opportunity to play at the highest level that I can. He said I'll get that here.

"It's the old saying; once you've got a lot of good players around you, you tend to blossom so I can't wait to get on the training pitch and be with these world class players.

"Hopefully that'll bring the best out of me and show the boys, the fans, everyone that I can wear the Chelsea shirt and I'm proud enough to wear it."

And as the team prepared for their pre-season US tour, Sidwell warned his better-known team-mates: "I am noisy and do a lot of talking on the pitch. I like to really push players on and get the best out of them. If we're losing then I can guarantee I'll be pushing the boys to give 110 per cent."