Jonathan Williams fulfilled the dreams of Crystal Palace fans when he helped the club win promotion to the Premier League.
Now it is his turn to indulge in some fantasies.
The 19-year-old midfielder grew up as a huge fan of Chelsea and Williams is relishing the chance to face his Stamford Bridge hero, Frank Lampard. “It will be great to be against Lampard,” said the Kent-born Wales international.
“It will be awesome. As a midfield player, I have obviously looked up to him. I would like to improve the number of goals I score and he is a prime example of getting goals from midfield.
“The way he does it is incredible and hopefully I can work on that and improve. The technical ability will be higher but hopefully that will suit us. The way the manager Ian Holloway wants us to play is good football and I am delighted to be part of that.”
As a young man proud of his Welsh heritage – his father Peter was born in Anglesey – Williams is anxious to play against Manchester United’s Wales star Ryan Giggs.
He added: “I can’t explain what it will mean for me to play against him. I’ll try to get his shirt.”