Tammy
Abraham has set his sights on one day making his mark at Chelsea after
taking the Championship by storm on loan at Bristol City this season.
The 19-year-old striker has netted 11 times in 16 games in all competitions
so far, with his eight in the league helping him win the PFA Fans' Player of
the Month award for August and September, as well as firing the Robins to
sixth in the table.
Chelsea is a notoriously difficult place for youngsters to make the grade,
but Abraham believes he has what it takes to impress boss Antonio Conte and
become a fixture in the future at Stamford Bridge.
"I think with the new manager coming in the chances are there because we can
see he's been playing youngsters," Abraham told Sky Sports.
"It's a case of when you get the opportunity you have to impress and give
your all. Everyone has their time and hopefully my time will come soon."
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ola Aina and Nathaniel Chalobah all appeared off the
bench as Chelsea thrashed Leicester 3-0 on Saturday, with the latter
providing a superb assist for Victor Moses to score the third.
And Abraham said there is a great relationship among the Chelsea youngsters,
who all support each other in their endeavours to make it to the top.
"Obviously we get back to each other and say congrats to each other," he
said. "[Chalobah] is doing well for himself and is a good example for the
Chelsea youngsters.
"We always chat to each other after matches and find out how we're doing. We
keep in contact and the [Chelsea] coaches get back to us and inform us of
little things. They make you feel involved even though you're away."
While Abraham did say he hasn't had any contact with Conte since his switch
to Bristol City, senior stars such as John Terry do get in touch to help him
with his progress.
"Yeah [Terry] still gets in touch," he said. "I think he keeps up with the
games and how well I'm doing then he gets back to me to say congratulations,
just little things like that which obviously is a good thing for me and it
gives me confidence knowing people [at Chelsea] are aware of me."
Another source of inspiration for Abraham is Marcus Rashford. The two of
them were up against each other in the FA Youth Cup earlier this year, but
Rashford has since emerged as a star at Manchester United and went with
England to Euro 2016. And Abraham hopes that, should the chance arise in the
future, he could do the same at Chelsea.
"I've played against him in the FA Youth Cup where we knocked them out, then
he went a couple of months later to actually win the FA Cup!" said Abraham.
"It's funny how things change, he's doing well for himself and I'm happy for
him.
"If I give my best you've just got to take the opportunity when it comes to
you like he did. He's a good example for all of us."
For now, though, the teenager is fully focused on Bristol City and more
immediate targets this season, while also simply relishing the challenge of
playing regularly in the Championship.
"The way I'm going I've set myself a target of 30 plus goals this season,"
he said. "We know in the Championship any team can beat any team but all the
players I'm playing with are fantastic and we're aiming for the play-offs.
"[The Championship] is a different challenge, I knew what to expect coming
across players older than me and stronger than me. You have to adapt the way
you play and adapt your game [from youth football].
"But I've found it to be a good challenge, it's about making the right
movements and just finding a different way of beating my opponents if I
can't outpace them or out-strength them.
"I wouldn't say I've changed [my style of play]. Scoring goals is what I
love doing and obviously it shows, I've always been the same character I
just have to vary the way I play in different games.
"I've always believed in myself and when you have a coach and players that
believe in you it gives you that confidence when you go out onto the pitch,
and every time I go out there that's what I strive to do, score goals and
hopefully get the result for the team."
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