Conor Gallagher has suggested he is confident of signing a new deal with Chelsea and says he is loving playing for the club under Mauricio Pochettino.
Gallagher's current contract is up at the end of next season and he was linked with a deadline-day move to rivals Tottenham in the summer.
Despite the club's interest in the cashing-in on the academy graduate, Pochettino has made Gallagher a key part of his improving young side and handed the 23-year-old the captain's armband when skipper Reece James and deputy Ben Chilwell were out.
Asked about his contract situation on England duty, Gallagher said: "I’m sure that will get sorted out, everyone knows Chelsea is my club and I love playing for them.
"The fans are brilliant and I’m loving right now and I’m sure it will get itself sorted out."
Spurs held talks with Chelsea over an eleventh-hour deal for Gallagher in August but eventually baulked at the Blues' £45million asking price.
“A lot was going on in the summer, a big transition in the club, a lot of players coming in, a lot of players leaving," Gallagher said.
"I was lucky enough to stay and be a part of the manager’s plans, whatever he wants me to do I have been doing and I will keep working as hard as possible for him.
"It was a crazy period in terms of ins and outs at Chelsea and I had conversations with the manager and he expressed that he liked me as a player and I was in his plans and I was really happy with that."
Asked about captaining the Blues, Gallagher added: "I love when I get to wear the armband. Reece and ‘Chilli’ are captain and vice-captain so whenever I get the chance to it’s an honour. I like the responsibility of wearing the armband. Whenever I get the chance to wear for Chelsea it is a really proud feeling.
"It gives me a bit more confidence and it shows how the manager thinks of me, and that means a lot to me. The confidence definitely gets bigger from having that responsibility. So hopefully there’s more times I will be able to wear it.
"[The manager] understands that it is Chelsea, it is an English club and you have to be English speaking so I think that is a big factor in it.
"Reece James has been one of Chelsea’s best players in recent years when he’s been fit and he’s come through the academy, so he got the armband. You could say Thiago Silva but everyone knows he is a leader that doesn’t need an armband, he’s still a massive leader on the pitch himself. Being an English club and Reece being the brilliant player he is, it is pretty good decision."
I'm very confident in my ability and what I can do.
Wednesday marks a year to the day since Gallagher and his England teammates travelled to Qatar for the winter World Cup.
During the tournament, the midfielder admitted he did not expect to make the cut for the finals and was "surprised" to be on the plane.
Reminded of that comment, Gallagher said: "That's not the case any more. After the World Cup squad was announced, I wasn't playing much for Chelsea and we were going through a tough period, so that's why I said that in an interview.
"But I'm very confident in my ability and what I can do. Training and playing alongside midfielders worth 100 plus million pounds is good and shows where I'm at as well.
"Obviously, playing every game so far with Chelsea this season and doing well really helps with my confidence and I think you can see that on the pitch and I'll always give my best for Chelsea and for England.
"So hopefully I can continue to perform well to keep playing as many games as I can."
