Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori admits an early first team breakthrough set him up for this season's personal success.

Featuring in six of the opening 10 games in 2019/20 was an important part of adjusting to the new challenge of Premier League football and feeling comfortable among elite peers and competitors.

"It was just about me feeling like I belonged and that I could play at this level," the 22-year-old told the official Chelsea website. "I had spent two-and-a-half years in the Championship and with Derby last season I managed to win Player of the Year and get to Wembley for the play-off final so I knew I'd had a good season.

"I wanted to challenge myself at the next level, which was the Premier League. I wanted to do it for Chelsea, the club that I've been at since I was eight; a club that's won the Champions League, the Premier League, FA Cups, everything.

"They won the Europa League the previous season so being able to come into that team and show myself, show the manager and the fans and my team-mates, show everyone that I could play at that level, was really important.

Tomori made his first Chelsea start against Sheffield United in August and then scored his memorable first goal in his next outing at Wolves.

"I managed to do that in those early games and showcase what I could do and I've managed to carry that through. Now, it's just about trying to maintain that level, not drop below it and keep on improving it."