10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOFTUS-CHEEK

1 BOLT FROM THE BLUE

His Cobham home was hit by lightning in June last year, 11 years after it happened at his family home in Swanley, Kent. And they say it never strikes twice...

2 FOOTBALLING FAMILY

Ruben is the half-brother on his father’s side of former Newcastle striker Carl Cort and ex-Crystal Palace defender Leon Cort.

3 EUROPEAN CHAMPION

He was part of the Chelsea side who won the UEFA Youth League final in 2015, alongside Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke.

4 A NEW BOSS EVERY SIX GAMES

In just 29 PL games he has played under Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Antonio Conte, Frank de Boer and Roy Hodgson.

5 TWO LEAGUE WINNER’S MEDALS

Mourinho requested LoftusCheek be given a medal after playing three times in Chelsea’s title triumph in 2014-15, before playing six times last season to win another.

6 MICKEY-TAKER

Germany legend Michael Ballack is his inspiration. He said: ‘My coaches always used to say, “Watch the games, watch Ballack”.

7 SHARP SHOOTER

He scored with his first shot on target for Chelsea, against Scunthorpe in the FA Cup in 2016.

8 FAST STARTER He made his debut for Chelsea Under 18s when he was just 14!

9 RARE HOME HERO FOR PALACE

He is the first Palace player to start for England at Wembley since Geoff Thomas in February 1992.

10 TOULON TITAN

He was player of the tournament as England Under 21s won the 2016 Toulon Tournament, scoring in the final against France.