SALOMON KALOU
A first season of steady progress is under the belt of the young striker who signed in the summer of 2006 when an undisclosed transfer fee was paid to Dutch club Feyenoord.
Ivory Coast-born, Salomon had performed in the Dutch league for three seasons. In 2003/4 he made two appearances for Feyenoord but played the bulk of the season on loan at another Rotterdam club, second division Excelsior, where he netted four goals in 11 appearances.
The 20 goals he scored in 2004/5 was the second best total in the Dutch top division that season. He was selected as the winner of the Johan Cruyff Award for Young Talent playing in Holland.
Quick and skilful, he can perform anywhere across the front line and made his debut in the Community Shield against Liverpool in August and scored his first goal in a Carling Cup tie away at Blackburn in October 2006.
In total he scored nine goals in his first Chelsea season as he understudied Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko, playing a part in 58 of the 64 games.
