Manchester United winger Daniel James used to be a "funny little fat kid", according to a current national team colleague.
The 22-year-old has scored three goals in 16 games since joining the Red Devils in the summer from Swansea City.
James's dedication to impress led him to top all of the club's pre-season fitness tests, but former Swans teammate Connor Roberts says that that would not have always been the case.
Speaking to The Athletic about the winger's rise, Roberts said: "My first thoughts were, 'You wouldn't think he is as quick as he is.' I thought he was a funny little fat kid.
"He had the pace — that's what he thrives on. We always used to joke that he's the fastest chubby kid we've ever seen.
"In recent years, he has got more toned but when he first came, he almost had a little bit of a belly on him. I was like, 'Well, he can't be that fast.' But obviously he is."
James and Roberts are both in Ryan Giggs's squad for Wales's final two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Hungary.
