Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek can become a regular fixture under Graham Potter.
That is according to Simon Phillips, who has been giving his assessment of the 26-year-old’s prospects at Stamford Bridge.
What’s the word?
The journalist believes that Loftus-Cheek has a “fighting chance” of asserting his authority as a regular in Potter’s starting line-up this season.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Phillips said: “With Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s current form, I think he has a fighting chance of being a regular in that midfield and can give Chelsea that other needed option until January or the summer.”
Loftus-Cheek impressing for Chelsea
With injuries at Chelsea accounting for the notable omissions of N’Golo Kante and more recently Reece James, the versatile Loftus-Cheek is staking his claim in the team.
So far, the midfielder has proven to be as a useful asset to Potter, who has afforded him three starts from his first six games in charge, making use of the player’s “power and dexterity”, traits which have been previously hailed by Training Ground Guru’s Simon Austin on Twitter.
His start last time out against Aston Villa saw him put in yet another solid performance, this time as one of the pivots in the 4-2-3-1 set-up.
Loftus-Cheek looked comfortable at the heart of the midfield engine room and put in a selfless performance which saw him excel out of possession, having won the joint-most duels in the match with seven out of 13.
It was a display which yet again summarised the 26-year-old’s use to Potter and advertised his versatility in the midfield once more, with the 10-cap England international seemingly able to play in multiple positions across a variety of systems.
If he can muster his way into more of the Blues’ matchday line-ups over the coming weeks, his position in the debate for regular game-time at Chelsea will be a strong one, even heading into the winter transfer window.
Indeed, with England’s injury crisis at right-back, the £120k-per-week Loftus-Cheek may even be fancied as a surprise pick on the plane to the World Cup Qatar, having covered for James as a wing-back on a few occasions.
