The net in front of the Matthew Harding Stand ripples and Liam Delap instantly turns away, ready to receive the next ball. That one is dispatched, too. And another. And another. All the while, photographs are being taken and video is captured.

The technique is second nature to the striker, yet one powerful attempt crashes against the crossbar and bounces away. That miss is what Delap reflects upon after the shoot; it is a window into the uncompromising mindset of a player who struck 12 Premier League goals last season.

It is also a firm indication of the standards Delap sets for himself. He has not arrived at Chelsea by chance, it has taken years of hard work and dedication. The journey has been important.

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‘It’s a lifetime of graft,’ he says. ‘Since I was eight or nine years old, I was focused on football. I never wanted to do anything else, and I’ve given everything I could to make it happen.

‘It’s such a long and hard period and things can be tough for you, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I just love football; I’d be playing with my mates if I wasn’t a professional.

‘Fortunately, I’m alright at it – and I’m delighted that graft has worked out and I’m here now at Chelsea.’

Delap is accompanied throughout the shoot at Stamford Bridge by his mother, Helen, and father, Rory.

Of course, the latter is well known to football supporters given his 20-plus-year playing career, which included 14 seasons in the Premier League with Derby County, Southampton, and Stoke City.

‘Some of my earliest football memories are watching him playing – and launching throw-ins – for Stoke at the Britannia!’ says Liam. ‘We tried to get to as many games as possible, and I had a great upbringing in that I was so close to it all.

‘It gave me that feeling of football early; it was incredible and something I wanted. But I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I had to work hard for it.

‘I owe both mum and dad so much. I’ve got a younger brother and sister, and while dad was playing, my mum was so important to balance us and make sure we got to where we are today.

‘I can’t repay them enough, but I’m sure they are very proud and that is what makes me happy.’

Liam’s football journey started in the academy of Derby County. He spent almost a decade with the club before moving to Manchester City in 2019. There he became a team-mate of Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer, and was coached by Enzo Maresca during the 2020/21 season.

Powered by Delap’s goals – he netted 24 times in 20 matches – City won Premier League 2 for the first time. He also made his senior debut during the campaign, scoring against Bournemouth in the League Cup.

Yet with Sergio Aguero and then Erling Haaland leading the City attack, further senior experience was sought elsewhere, with Delap spending time on loan in the Championship with Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City.

‘I had a few loans and I learned a lot from then,’ he says. ‘You are a mixture of all these different experiences, so I’ve taken little bits from everywhere I’ve been and then built it together as one. I’m always learning and developing.’

An important step was taken in Delap’s career last summer as he left City permanently to join Ipswich Town, then newly promoted to the Premier League. The move provided the young striker with stability and a platform to perform, something he firmly took advantage of.

Six goals were struck in his opening 11 Premier League matches for the Tractor Boys, including a winner away at Tottenham Hotspur. His seventh came in a victory over the Blues at Portman Road before five more were added over the remainder of the campaign.

‘The most important thing for me last summer was going somewhere where I could play a lot of minutes. That was the opportunity I felt I needed, to go and express myself and show the player I am. Ipswich gave me that opportunity, which was so important, and I’m very grateful for that.’

Delap will not be short of further opportunities to prove himself at Chelsea. Next season, the Blues return to the Champions League, a competition we have twice won, and our quest for silverware never stops.

That is something the England Under-21 international is well aware of. He knows his history.

‘Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years,’ he says.

‘I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.’