However America’s superstar player is back in is homeland and today takes on the newest side in the United States’ domestic league, well aware of the growth of the sport here.

Pulisic of course plays in the States regularly with his national side which is increasingly supplying players to England’s Premier League, but he is looking forward to wearing the Chelsea shirt against Charlotte FC in the Bank of America Stadium where he scored twice for Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season win against Liverpool in 2018.

‘I'm really excited to be back in Charlotte,’ states Pulisic as he looks ahead to the match.

• How you can watch our game vs Charlotte FC live

• Brief yourself on our opposition side

• For me and for everyone, he is going to help

‘It's cool to see how far along the sport and the MLS team has come here. Getting to play against them will be a great experience, so I'm thrilled to be back here with Chelsea and be back in the States with a chance to play here again.

‘The sport in general in America has grown so much since I first started playing over in Europe. It's really cool to see. When I first moved over, there was a following but now coming back, seeing the amount of Americans with their Premier League jerseys on whatever team it is, it's cool to see.

‘It's fun to see the support and just how much the sport has grown.’

Pulisic is sure games like the ones Chelsea are playing during this pre-season tour help embed soccer further on this side of the Atlantic, with on a personal level many of his friends and family and other people he knows making sure they are at matches this summer.

‘They don't get to go and see Premier League games every weekend,’ he adds, ‘so it's really big for them to come and see some of their favourite teams playing in the States against MLS teams. It's a good way to bring people out and get a taste of what the game is like and how we play it. Seeing it in your own country is really special.’

One relative not certain to be at the Charlotte versus Chelsea game is his cousin Will Pulisic who plays as a goalkeeper at nearby North Carolina FC.

‘I was speaking to him all week but he has a very busy schedule,’ Christian explains. ‘I think he has three away games in a row so I'm not sure if he's going to make it but he's been supporting me and I've been following him as well.’

He has also been speaking to US national team-mates Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams who have just joined Leeds United and Matt Turner, a summer recruit by Arsenal, with more possibly following into the Premier League.

‘I'm very excited,’ Pulisic declares. ‘It’s just amazing to see some of my team-mates that I've played with for so long getting to play in what we feel is the best league in the world. They're great players and they're going to have to go through the same things that I've gone through and I'm really excited to see how they do.’

Continuing the conversation theme, the American influence at Chelsea has increased significantly in 2022 with our new ownership, who have spoken to their compatriot in the squad.

‘It's cool having some American guys around and getting to meet them but mostly right now I’m focusing on what's happening in the pre-season,’ says Pulisic. ‘Being in America is amazing and we're just excited to get the season started.

‘Truthfully, I'm just very focused on how I can help this team right now and how I can continue to do that.’