Alex Iwobi is speaking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairstyle has actually assisted his football in what he sees as his finest start to a Premier League season up until now.

'Yeah, that actually plays a part (in revealing myself),' the Fulham midfielder states.

'My daddy's in the house and he's probably heard me. He didn't like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn't wish to cut it off so I believed let's do something various that nobody else has. I literally told the hairdresser to 'reveal yourself' but not too wild. It's wild because it's red and purple at the moment but I like it. My papa's accepted it now so I'm easy.'

It's a stark contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching under Arsene Wenger in 2015.

Iwobi firmly insists that he's constantly had the frame of mind of feeling like there's more to life than football but has actually only expressed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and launching his charitable foundation, Project 17.

'It's always been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it's just recently that I've been revealing myself a lot more, to reveal people that I am not just a footballer. There is more to life, he says.

Alexi Iwobi has made his finest start to a Premier League season with five objectives in 15 matches

The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have actually added to his on-pitch enhancement

It's a plain contrast from the short-haired teenager who made his launching under Arsene Wenger

This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 families for Christmas as part of Project 17.

For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his home town, where whatever will be totally free in a local grocery store.

'You know what Liverpool are like - it's going to be an extreme game but whether I get cramp or have no hamstrings, I will exist on Sunday,' Iwobi stresses.

'In the house I was raised in, my dad naturally just offered back. To people in Nigeria, to his household and even people in the street - he would simply purchase bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and dad are has actually motivated me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less fortunate. With the position I remain in, I feel like it's just right with the influence I have that I return also.'

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has currently scored more objectives than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

'As a child you want to do your finest to impress the manager and want everybody to understand you are fully concentrated on football. But it (flexibility) comes with age, being complimentary and not being pushed about negative remarks. If it's constructive, you do not mind the criticism,' he states.

'You need to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they're positive and with me, feeling confident to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have individuals that back you, it truly plays a part.'

Among those individuals that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn't be reluctant when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton last week, Silva said it was Iwobi's 'finest season in the Premier League up until now' and he concurs.

The 28-year-old will feed 100 households on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17

Iwobi firmly insists that he's constantly had the mindset of sensation like there's more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching tune 'Don't Shoot' and in November launched a follow-up 'What's Luv?'

'I have been associated with a great deal of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it's my best start to the season - I simply have to keep it going and make certain it's my best season. That's the objective' states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him 'the license to express' himself. 'It's good to have a manager who gives you the self-confidence to do that,' he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune 'Don't Shoot' and in November launched a follow-up 'What's Luv?' which is described as a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing mixed with Rap".

It's likewise a tune that Silva's enjoying in the dressing room, with Fulham making their finest start to a top-flight season given that 2003-04.

'I don't get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can't assist himself, Iwobi exposes.

'He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the song. The very first time he (Silva) heard 'What's Luv?' he was simply vibing like, 'is this Alex?' and Calvin was like 'yes it's Alex!' He stated it wasn't bad. I understand the very first time he didn't understand what was said however he enjoyed the beat. So it's a win-win.

'Everyone vibes with it and I'm having good feedback from the team - even the people who don't speak English as their first language like the Brazilians, they're vibing as well,' adds Iwobi.

Silva's strategy at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but he was sacked four months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez hardly played him at all.

Iwobi would travel across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that pleasure has actually been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

'Everyone's frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that's certainly helping us this season. We have actually been having team meals and bonding and that's brought a lot of togetherness, states Iwobi.

Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on in 2023

Iwobi will have his work eliminated as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield

'Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to consume. We organised a journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), came back then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we're prepared to fly and we can do anything together.'

Another team meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in 7 days over Christmas. 'The gaffer wishes to take us out. That's another bit of complimentary food so I'm not grumbling,' jokes Iwobi. 'It's truly good. It's like one huge family.'

But first, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal recently and directly losing at Man City in October in a video game where Pep Guardiola was complete of credit for Fulham.

'It reveals we have the capability to compete with anybody. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,' Iwobi firmly insists.

Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot's league-leaders might well be hearing 'What's Luv' blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi