Chelsea striker Richards explains Bailey and Sterlng influence

Chelsea striker Dujuan Richards admits growing up following the career of Aston Villa attacker Leon Bailey.

'Whisper' comes from the same Jamaican academy as Bailey and says the senior man was an idol.

"When I was younger, I didn't like watching live matches on television," Richards told chelsefc.com.

"I was always a fan of highlights and watching skills, seeing who the fastest player was, but as I got older I started getting into live football. I then started to watch players and wanting to be like them.

"Growing up I only watched Leon Bailey because he is from the same academy as me.

"He has been my idol for five or six years now. I'm really pleased to say that we're friends now that we have met in the Jamaican national team. He was everything I wanted to be."

Richards says Chelsea teammate Raheem Sterling, with his deep Jamaican roots, was in touch before he made the move to London.

"Raheem and I messaged over Instagram before I arrived at Chelsea.

"I just got a message from him one day and I was really surprised. I woke up for training and I told everyone there that Raheem had messaged!

"Things like that don't normally happen. For someone playing at the highest level to message and tell me that I'm a good guy it motivates me a lot. He's a good guy and is looking out for me."