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Schlupp eyes Essien meeting

Image: Jeffrey Schlupp: Relishing the opportunity to go up against Chelsea's Michael Essien

Leicester teenager Jeffrey Schlupp is hoping to get the opportunity to line up against Michael Essien in this weekend's FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

Foxes teenager looking forward to FA Cup tie at Stamford Bridge

Leicester teenager Jeffrey Schlupp is hoping to get the opportunity to line up against Ghanaian hero Michael Essien in this weekend's FA Cup tie at Chelsea. Essien is revered in Ghana and widely recognised as the greatest player to emerge from the African country. Schlupp, born in Hamburg in Germany to Ghanaian parents, made his debut for the Black Stars in November but has yet to meet his idol. The 19-year-old Leicester striker will hope that Essien's involvement for the whole 120 minutes in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League victory over Napoli on Wednesday night does not mean the 29-year-old midfielder is overlooked by interim Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo on Sunday. "He is someone I look up to," said Schlupp. "He is a well-respected player, the national captain and an idol in Ghana so I would love to play against him. To play against someone like him would be an achievement. "I also look forward to playing with him at some point too. "He is a great player, but there are a lot of great players in the Chelsea team."

Chuffed

Even if Essien does not play for the three-time Premier League winners, Schlupp knows that walking out at Stamford Bridge with a semi-final place at Wembley at stake would represent one of the biggest moments of his fledgling career. "Chelsea have always been one of the best teams in the country, they have great players. I would be chuffed to be involved in a game like that," said the Leicester academy graduate. "They are all great players. To be playing against players like that at my age is a great achievement. I am looking forward to it and hopefully I will be involved and we can beat them. "It will be one of the biggest games I have been involved in if I am selected."

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