Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has detailed how he grew as a player during his spells away on-loan.

Tomori has established himself as a Chelsea first teamer this season after spending last term away with Derby County.

The defender has been discussing that acceleration through the football pyramid, from academy football to the Championship and then on to the Premier League and Champions League, all in the space of three years.

"You're suddenly thrust into this men's team environment and playing against seasoned professionals who have played the game for 15 or 20 years in some cases," the 22-year-old says of his move into the senior game in an interview with the official Chelsea website.

"It's a big transition because you have to train well, try to get yourself into the team and then you're fighting every week for three points that could get you promoted, into the play-offs or save you from relegation.

"You have to deal with the physical side of the game but then from the Championship to the Premier League, it's a bit more of a mental change where you have to be even more focused,' he explains about adapting to top-flight football this campaign.

"You have to be more conscious with how you take care of your body and the little things you can do to improve to get yourself that extra five per cent. Each milestone and level has its own adaptation period where you have to figure out what you need to do and how you can better yourself."