Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek moves closer towards returning to first-team action after playing 60 minutes for Chelsea’s development squad
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has moved closer towards returning to first-team action after playing 60 minutes for Chelsea’s development squad in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford B on Tuesday.
The game was held at Chelsea’s training ground and was used to assess Loftus-Cheek, who had not played since rupturing his left achilles during a post-season friendly against New England Revolution in Boston last May. The midfielder is thought to have shown no ill effects.
Signs of Loftus-Cheek making good progress in his recovery is a boost for Chelsea, who have missed the 24-year-old’s driving runs from midfield. Loftus-Cheek was playing well before his setback, impressing on the ball and offering a goal threat, and the England international is expected to become an important player for Frank Lampard.
However there is a recognition that Loftus-Cheek, who has spent longer on the sidelines than initially expected, cannot rush his rehabilitation.
He returned to first-team training only at the end of January, following a brief spell working with the under-16s.
“Where we are having a bit of time off for the players, he won’t, he’ll be working,” Lampard said last week. “He’ll be with the 23s to try and get some minutes … Hopefully after the break we can talk about him more when he is going to come back into the squad.”
Chelsea have two weeks off because of the Premier League’s mid-season break, giving Loftus-Cheek space to continue working away from the spotlight.
