Middlesbrough's on-loan Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has stated his desire to break into the Blues' first-team when he returns to west London next season.
Omeruo, 21, has spent the last two seasons on loan with the Championship club, but feels he is now ready to make the step up to Premier League football.
Speaking with the BBC, the Nigerian centre-half said, "I've gained great experience [here] and can't wait for the chance to be in the Premier League next season. I'm confident I can break into Chelsea's first team at some point. Chelsea knows that too, if not I wouldn't have a long-term contract."
The defender played every minute of Nigeria's World Cup campaign in Brazil last year, including their 3-2 defeat to eventual finalists Argentina, when Lionel Messi scored a brace.
However, this news has come as something of a shock to some Middlesbrough fans as Omeruo's form has dipped in recent months, leaving him dropping down the pecking order as Boro maintain the strongest defensive record in the division.
After a hugely impressive first spell on Teesside at the end of last season, he has gone on to make only 16 first-team appearances this time around.
Despite this, Omeruo believes that the increasing standard of second-division football has provided him with an adequate education for playing in José Mourinho's team.
"If you look at the teams who were relegated last season from the Premier League, they are struggling to get to the play-off positions," he continued. So that tells you how hard the league is. It is a strong, physical league and you have to always be mentally ready."
With Middlesbrough sitting in third in what has been the tightest title race in recent memory in the Championship, however, Omeruo is not getting ahead of himself.
"I still have to take things step by step," he said. "I have to stay focused on Middlesbrough and help the team the best way I can. We are looking forward to the next game [against Wigan] and giving our best. Everyone knows in the club the target is to win the league or be second. I am confident we will get promotion."