Jesurun Uchegbulam celebrates scoring for Chesterfield at Yeovil in the National League
Jesurun Uchegbulam spent several years at AC Milan's academy and played at the San Siro
Dates: 6-9 January Coverage: Gillingham v Leicester City (12:30 GMT) and Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United (18:00) live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app on Saturday, 7 January, and Manchester City v Chelsea (16:30) live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app on Sunday, 8 January.

Few of the players competing in the third round of the FA Cup will have experienced a journey like that one.

Uchegbulam was born in Nigeria and spent several years at AC Milan's academy before playing at the San Siro.

A health scare at the age of 16 resulted in heart surgery for the winger who had an extended trial atEverton.

Uchegbulam had a cyst on his heart and had high blood pressure.

They had to put a tube in me. If I didn't get it done, I could collapse.

He joined the 10th tier of English football after making a full recovery from his injury.

After playing at the San Siro, Uchegbulam moved to the North West Counties League.

He hopes to help the Spireites deliver one of this weekend's biggest surprises when West Brom visit the non- league club.

Uchegbulam said he always told himself to get back up.

It's my first professional contract. It's a dream that I haven't woken up from yet.

Inside AC Milan's famous talent factory

After his parents moved to Venice when he was a child, Uchegbulam grew up in Italy.

AC Milan's academy is one of the world's most famous talent factories, with graduates including Paolo Maldini, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Uchegbulam remembers a time when he scored more than 100 goals for the under-13s while playing as a center-back.

He said that they used to play against the likes of the under-13's and beat them 14-0.

I played in teams at least two years older than my age. I used to play for the under 17s.

Uchegbulam played for the youth team at Inter Milan and lost.

There was a large group of people. It was the same as walking out onto any other pitch.

I get goose bumps walking out to play for a team.

I didn't pay a lot of attention to nerves back then. I wanted to have a good time on the pitch.

After his parents lost their jobs, Uchegbulam and his family moved to England in order to find a better life.

It wasn't long before the player was dealt a blow.

Jesurun Uchegbulam celebrates scoring for Chesterfield at Yeovil in the National League
Jesurun - nicknamed 'Jez' by his Chesterfield team-mates - also had trials at Brentford and Stoke before joining Chesterfield

'Heart surgery news was devastating'

People were losing their jobs in Italy. Uchegbulam's father and mother lost their jobs in a care home.

The family arrived in Harpurhey at the age of 15. Uchegbulam caught the eye of anEverton scout while playing football.

He says he realized the best position for him was further up the pitch.

I was strong and fast and had an eye for goal.

During my time at Goodison, I was training with Anthony Gordon.

The news that I needed heart surgery made me sad. I was really sad.

I had a checkup at the hospital and was told my blood pressure wasn't normal.

A cyst on his heart had to be removed.

He said it wasn't nice. After the surgery, I was in the hospital for three weeks. I couldn't walk or do anything for a long time after I left.

Winger Jesurun Uchegbulam holds a Chesterfield scarf after signing for the club
Jesurun Uchegbulam is hoping to help Chesterfield reach the fourth round of the FA Cup for only the second time since they were semi-finalists in 1996-97

Will non-league Chesterfield surprise West Brom?

With his health problems behind him, Uchegbulam is looking ahead to a positive future after signing for Chesterfield, a full-time club in the fifth tier of English football.

Following last season's defeat at the hands of European champions, the Spireites are set to welcome a bigger crowd for their second-round match.

Excitement is growing in the town that a team managed by a former Wolves player can shock the world by beating a Championship side.

After winning their past six home games in the National League, Chesterfield are hoping to return to the Football League.

FA Cup archive: Middlesbrough v Chesterfield, 1997 semi-final

Uchegbulam said that they have the potential to cause an upset.

It is pure joy playing in front of them because you are doing something you love and trying to put a smile on the faces of fans.

Uchegbulam has mostly been used as an impact substitute in his first season at the scrutineers

He has quickly established himself as a fan favourite after scoring an 88th-minute tying goal at Yeovil on 17 September.

He says there was no better feeling than when he scored his first professional goal.

It meant a lot to my family and I.