Born 3/8/89 in Slough, Berkshire
The number one target for Sam in 2009/10 is a season largely free of injury having seen the previous two spoilt by knee trouble that required surgery and expert consultation in the United States.

The early signs are good after a successful tour in the US with the first team, after a disappointing hold up for a player who made major progress in 2006/07, completed with a first team debut as a substitute in the final league game against Everton.

Sam was then part of the first team pre-season visit to the United States that followed, ex-manager José Mourinho speaking about him as a future member of the Chelsea squad.

However after just five reserve games in 2007/08, the injury brought the season to a halt. Further recovery time was needed in the middle section of last season, limiting Sam to six league games.

The reserve team captain prior to his set-back, Sam is a right-back or centre-back who first joined the Academy aged nine. Now in his fifth year full-time at the club, he signed a four-year contract in August 2007 and has been a member of the England Under 19 squad.