In Focus: Still time for Ruben to hit lofty heights at Chelsea

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was one of the unlikely stars as Chelsea beat Southampton 3-1 on Saturday.

The England international set up the first goal and produced the sort of display that saw him called up to the 2018 World Cup squad.

After spending last season on loan at Fulham, it appeared Loftus-Cheek's Chelsea career was over.

But with five appearances for the Blues already under his belt this term, the 25-year-old midfielder will feel rejuvenated.

Can he kick on and hold down a regular spot in Thomas Tuchel's team or will injury problems and a loss of form rear their ugly head once again?

Bleak future

It looked like Loftus-Cheek's dream of becoming a Chelsea regular was over. 

After an Achilles injury sustained in a game in the US resulted in him making just nine appearances in 2019-20, he was shipped out on loan to Fulham last season.

Though Tuchel praised him in April, with Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount in the German's squad, chances looked thin on the ground in midfield. 

Links with Roma and West Ham led to nothing and Saul Niguez’s arrival on loan on deadline day suggested a wasted season lay ahead for the England man.

Opportunities

But Loftus-Cheek knew chances would come in competitions like the Carabao Cup — he just had to take them.

Speaking in pre-season, he said: "I had last season as a season where I can find my feet — and it definitely felt like that at the start.

"I was struggling mentally and needed to focus on just taking risks in training and get that feel back.

"But it eventually came and I was doing really well in games, so I've had my injury and I've had a season now to get fit and feel confident in my body and this season is where I hit the ground running."

After playing the last minute against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League and the full 90 against Villa in the Carabao Cup, Loftus-Cheek came off the bench with 15 to go in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

He was used as a sub again as the Blues lost at Juventus but had impressed Tuchel enough to be handed his first Premier League start for in 12 months against the Saints.

Saints stunner

And boy did Loftus-Cheek make the most of his chance at Stamford Bridge.

His headed flick from a Ben Chilwell corner set up Trevor Chalobah’s opener yet it was from open play where he really impressed.

As well as creating a further chance for the Blues, Loftus-Cheek attempted five take-ons — the most in the side — and completed three of them.

That was one of the key reasons Tuchel picked him — to try and break the press and provide Chelsea with impetus going forward.

Speaking about Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley, the German said: "They are happy to have these chances, to feel the support. 

"Perhaps six weeks ago they couldn't have imagined they were in the situation to get real minutes, important minutes.

"So we decided to put Ruben in because we were aware of their high pressing in midfield but we wanted to go through midfield.

"Ruben and Kova [Mateo Kovacic] can not only pass but drive with the ball to escape the press. That is the reason we picked them."

Back on song

It was an impact that did not go unnoticed after Chelsea’s defeats to City and Juve.

Loftus-Cheek helped England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and his talent has always been apparent.

Speaking after the win over the Saints, Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright said: "I didn’t think we’d ever see him go back to this kind of form.

"The display today was magnificent. People say about his energy and it looked like he was playing in himself.

"But today, in his own box, in midfield, everything. One of the things he’s going to have to do to stay in this Chelsea team, especially as someone who played in a pivot as a [midfield] two, is score more goals.

"The power, the skill, he’s got everything. People say he hasn’t got the energy... look at him now, this is scary.

"We're looking at a Loftus-Cheek who looks to me like he’s got the fire in his belly back. He’s dangerous."

The future

Holding down a regular spot in the Chelsea side is a difficult task for any player — especially in the middle of the park.

Loftus-Cheek’s ability has never been in question, it is just whether he can stay fit or not.

If he does and plays a role in a successful season at the Bridge, the sky remains the limit. 

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is a known fan and has spoken about Loftus-Cheek earning an international recall if he is playing regular football. 

At the end of last year, while the player was with the Cottagers, Southgate said: "He was really unfortunate to get the injury. 

"He was having a super spell with Chelsea going into the latter stages of the Europa League, misses nearly a year and then just as he is getting back to fitness we have the pandemic so he's missed a huge chunk.

"We know that talent he has, we know what he is capable of. Hopefully he can get back to playing regularly with Fulham and then he can go from there."