COME HOME RUBEN
Willian wants young Lion back at Bridge
CHELSEA star Willian says Ruben Loftus-Cheek should still be at Stamford Bridge – and has urged him to go back.
The 21-year-old impressed for England against Germany last week and was doing well against Brazil on Tuesday night until he went off injured in the 35th minute.
But he got his big break for the Three Lions only after being bombed out on loan to Crystal Palace by Blues boss Antonio Conte in the summer.
Willian said: “He’s a very good player. He is strong, he has quality, he has a great future.
“I don’t know why he is at Crystal Palace now. I don’t know why, he has to
come back.” England boss Gareth Southgate has kept tabs on Loftus-Cheek since his days with the Under-21s and insists he could make the squad for the World Cup.
But Conte has never been totally convinced by the midfielder, and even tried to play him as a centreforward before sending him out on loan.
Loftus-Cheek expressed his frustration earlier this week with the way the Italian has treated him at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “I’ve had no contact. I’m focused at Palace for the season, there is no bitterness.
“Chelsea are a massive club and I understand opportunities don’t come to everyone or often.
“I think in the last two or three years I’ve had to be patient. It was tough, mentally, at Chelsea not getting the game time.
“A lack of games held me back, definitely. When you don’t play, you really feel the difference of what matches give you; the match sharpness, the fitness, the strength.
“It’s what you need to progress, so it was hard not playing when I was trying to be the best player on the pitch.”
Loftus-Cheek is doubtful for Palace’s Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday after injuring his back against Brazil on Tuesday night.