Drogba as we have hit the ground running in our Barclays Premier League campaign.

'For me it was really important to have a good start, when you start well you bring in more confidence. I'm really confident right now and I hope to keep on top of my game for a good season at Chelsea,' says the young Ivorian.

Speaking after setting up Drogba's winner at Reading, Kalou responds in a typically modest fashion to the suggestion of his importance in the goal.

'The most important thing is the victory and the team, and then I can talk about setting the goal up. If the team wins I am happy, and next time I hope I am the one who scores too.'

Ah yes, goals. Having notched nine last term, the versatile attacker has given himself a tough target to meet for 2007/8.

His personal aim is, in his own words, to 'score a lot of goals. Last year I scored nine goals, if I can double that, it will be fine. It's my goal to score 20 goals in all competitions and I hope to reach that.'

If he is successful, he'll have plenty of people to thank, and he feels just by training alongside some of the players in the squad, he is improving all the time.

Sharing competition for places and training time with Shevchenko, Drogba and Pizarro, who between them have approaching 150 international caps, will only be helping his development.

'When you come into the team, you mix with people and players. There are people here who helped me improve,' he reasons.

'Every time I train or I play I learn. I keep learning and I think I can grow and be a better player. From last year to now I am always improving, always learning on the training ground and I hope to bring that to the game.'

He has no fears regarding the competition with his more experienced rivals either, sacrificing himself for the benefit of the side, saying: 'I think it makes the team strong. We can carry on and play, the most important thing is we are all helping the team to win.'

This team spirit is evident throughout the squad, though friendships are put aside on the training pitch when the manager decides to split the players into groups to compete.

Fierce rivalry ensues, as the English players often combine against the Africans and the rest. Kalou considers it only natural that he joins forces with players from a similar culture.

'We have the same culture of football and sometimes it's easier to find another player because we have the same movements; we know how we want the ball,' he explains.

'We all come from the same countries, we have a kind of way to have fun, which makes it closer, but we still have fun with the other boys in the team.'

The latest addition is giant defender Alex, who joins us from PSV, and he is somebody Kalou knows all about, having faced him in Holland on a number of occasions.

'He's a strong guy, quick, good shot, and is good in the air,' he says of the towering centre back.

'He is the kind of defender you don't like to play against. He's going to help us to win a lot of games. I have no doubt he will fit in, and we hope he adapts to the league quickly.'

No doubt the Brazilian is just as thankful he doesn't have to come up against the young Ivorian with the fancy feet anymore.

By Andy Jones