The Blues starlet believes his captain's decision to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge is a huge boost to their hopes in the 2016-17 Premier League campaign

Ruben Loftus-Cheek says the Chelsea dressing room was "buzzing" upon finding out John Terry would extend his contract at Stamford Bridge.

The former England captain had announced he was not going to be offered a new deal in January but reached an agreement with the Blues six weeks after Antonio Conte's appointment as manager.

Loftus-Cheek is hoping to emulate Terry's rare success in emerging from the Chelsea academy to become a key first-team player and believes the 35-year-old's experience continues to prove a huge asset.

"We were buzzing when we found out he signed again," the midfielder told Goal. "He has been here for so long, he is such a good leader.

"I think if we had lost John, we would have a lot less leadership in the dressing room. So we are buzzing to have him here still.

"He brings experience with what he has done and he is such a nice person as well. He brings everyone together, everyone has respect for him.

"They listen to him, he is the captain of Chelsea, we respect him for that and he is such a nice person. He will help you and try and sort things out. He is just a top man really."

Terry has been tipped to move into a coaching role after hanging up his playing boots but Loftus-Cheek insists he is not the only player in constant communication with new boss Conte.

"Yeah definitely, [he works closely with the coaches] but I don’t think it is just Terry that can talk to the boss," he added. "I think the boss can talk to anyone.

"We have that player-manager relationship and I think Conte is really good at that."

Playing in a more advanced role under Conte, Loftus-Cheek will compete with the likes of Eden Hazard for a place in the team and hopes positive international tournaments can propel both him and the Belgian to successful campaigns.

Hazard rediscovered some of his best form at Euro 2016, leading the competition in assists, while Loftus-Cheek scored three goals as England won the Toulon Tournament.

"He did well, I thought Hazard did really well at the Euros," Loftus-Cheek continued. "I thought the Euros was great to watch but everything is different in tournament football.

"You have got games coming fast and you don’t have all the time to recover so you have got to have a good squad.

"In the tournament I was at with England in Toulon, it is a different experience, you have got to recover, and then you go again, you recover and you go again.

"It is tough, tournament football, it is always good to be a part of that and even watch it."