Chelsea fullback Reece James says his loan spell with Wigan Athletic transformed him as a player.

It was Didier Drogba who was James' idol when he was progressing through the ranks at Chelsea.

He has been forced to adapt. A loan spell at Wigan was so valuable that when the Lancastrian club found themselves in financial trouble two years ago, he donated £3,000 to their bid to raise £500,000 to stay in business.

James recalled: “The club helped me a lot, giving me the platform to play, so I tried to help them back.

“It was good to see them win promotion back to the Championship this season.

“I grew as a player there, living away from home and having to find my feet by doing things for myself.

“Half the season I played right back and the second half of the season I basically played midfield.

“I had been a striker until I was maybe 12 or 13 at Chelsea and I looked up to Drogba.

“I don't actually know why, but when I was about 12, I was moved back into midfield.

“Then, when I was 15, I was moved to right-back - and the first two years I hated it.

“But then one day it kinda just clicked and I never really looked back from there.

“Playing as a striker definitely helped me. If you go back five or 10 years, the full-back position definitely wasn't like it is now.

“It has evolved a lot. You are a lot freer to do what you want, not really a set defender but with the licence to get forward."