V RUTHLESS
‘Loftus-cheek’s been unplayable... and there’s loads more to come’
SCOTT PARKER believes Ruben Loftus-cheek is turning into an ‘unplayable’ force – and warned there is more to come.
Fulham’s boss says that the silky midfielder’s ‘rehab’ is quickly gathering pace at Craven Cottage following his injury nightmare.
Loftus-cheek looked to have the world at his feet following his breakthrough season at Chelsea only for a ruptured Achilles to halt his progress in May 2019 and see him sidelined for 13 months.
The Blues agreed to loan the 25-year-old to near-neighbours Fulham this season and Parker has made the England player a focal point of his squad.
Loftus-cheek turned in an eye-catching show alongside Harrison Reed against Sheffield United last week as the Cottagers turned up the heat on those above them in the survival fight.
Parker said: “When Ruben first came into the building, I sensed someone who was a little bit weary, someone who was doubting himself a little bit.
“He probably had a lot of
concerns. He had been out for an extremely long time and not played a lot of football.
“I’ve seen him grow and grow into the player we can all see.
“There’s still loads to come but this is a player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and be that powerful, technically gifted midfielder.
“I think that he’s growing in confidence.
“I think with the environment, how hard he’s worked in this short space of time have been a credit to him.
“There’s more to come but I’ve been very, very pleased and he’s going in the right direction.
“His self-belief is right there now. And it should be there.
“He’s playing in the best league in the world and, at times, he’s been unplayable, against teams and players who are world-class.
“You look at his career and other than period at Palace, there hasn’t been a really sustained period where he’s played. He’s been at Chelsea for a long time and had bit-parts, but never really got a consistent run.
“He’s an unbelievable kid. An unbelievable professional. He comes in every day wanting to work, and to work hard.
“That’s why he has every chance of being a top-class player.”
Parker has deployed Loftuscheek in an advanced role, but reckons he could adapt to any position in his midfield. Asked if the 10-cap Three Lions star could be wildcard for the European Championship, Parker added: “I think England are well-equipped in that position but if things were to change with injuries then I’m sure that he will be on their radar.”
Parker crosses swords in the dugout today with a man he played under on national duty.
At the age of 73, former England boss Roy Hodgson won’t continue as manager of Crystal Palace forever – and his former protege Parker insisted: “Roy’s experience would be invaluable for the Football Association.
“For a British coach to have done what Roy has with top teams in different countries... and he speaks different languages.
“Having someone like that around would be invaluable for me personally as a young English coach. He is someone that the country could certainly tap into and benefit from.”
PEP GUARDIOLA has always spent big money on his Manchester City defenders – and his investment paid a huge dividend against West Ham.
John Stones and Ruben Dias – jointly costing over £110million – were the unlikely match-winners as the City juggernaut powered on.
City’s 20th straight victory – and 14th in a row in the Premier League – means a third title in four seasons is looking more certain with each passing game. And Stones is more than playing his part.
For the reborn defender, 2021 is turning into the year when his career came back on track, his reputation restored. Few could have predicted more than 18 months in the wilderness for club and country after his displays at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
And the joy with which Stones celebrated his slickly taken secondhalf winner showed how much the 26-year-old is enjoying his renaissance – after fighting back from adversity.
“I try and chip in,” said Stones. “Some days it doesn’t come off for the forwards and today me and Ruben chipped in.
“It is part of us being a team. We are just glad to get three points and keep the run going.
“We go about our business in our
Referee: own way and keep fighting. We are playing the football we were playing a few seasons ago.
“We have fighters in the dressing room. It has been an incredible few months.”
City weren’t at their best – but that was a compliment to a superbly well-organised West Ham side, who are making big strides under David Moyes.
The Hammers stuck to a disciplined game plan and even after twice going behind they didn’t fold. Instead they kept going right to the end with Issa Diop close to a last-gasp equaliser that wouldn’t have been undeserved.
No wonder Moyes was pleased despite the result. He said: “I’m very disappointed we don’t get a point especially with that last-minute chance but it was a terrific performance.
“We played with composure and belief and matched the best team in Europe for long periods.
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breakthrough on 30 minutes was more route one. Kevin De Bruyne conjured a laser-guided cross into West Ham’s box and Dias headed home for his first goal since his £61.2million move from Benfica.
Credit to the Hammers, though, as they reacted with the confidence of a team who had lost just once in their last 11 league games.
Michail Antonio clipped the post from a Jesse Lingard cross and the pair teamed up again minutes later to craft a deserved equaliser.
Vladimir Coufal burst forward and cleverly picked out Lingard who shot for the far corner.
It might have just been missing, but Antonio pounced to steer the ball home on his 150th Premier
League appearance. City camped in West Ham’s half after the break but Moyes’ men kept their shape and restricted City to few clear-cut chances.
De Bruyne had one dangerous run and ball across goal, but it was Stones who got the job done right – expertly firing home in the box after a Riyad Mahrez pass.
Hammers still got City nerves jangling late on but Diop’s header from Lingard’s cross was misplaced.
IVAN TONEY looks destined to be playing in the Premier League next season – one way or another.
The striker, snapped up from Peterborough last summer for £5million, won this game with a late 25th league goal of the season.
That completed an unlikely comeback by promotion-chasing Brentford, who fell behind to a Jacob Brown goal after just 27 seconds and were flat for 45 minutes.
Vitaly Janelt’s screamer hauled them back into it before Toney, back in the starting line-up after an ankle knock, did what he does best.
And if Brentford should again fail to reach the top flight, it seems inconceivable Toney will not be the subject of big offers.
Bees boss Thomas Frank said: “Ivan deserves a lot of credit for his mentality and hunger, and for wanting to be better every day.
“This one was a natural
Ivan goal, falling to him in the box, and he finished it so well. But there are a lot of people involved in that story, from the recruitment department onwards.
“That is the third striker in a row here after Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins to get 25 goals.”
Stoke led when Brentford keeper David Raya was horribly casual with a back pass.
And he gifted the ball to Tommy Smith, who squared for a gleeful Brown to score only his second league goal of the season. It was another terrible moment for Raya, who gave the ball away for Coventry to score a week before.
But Frank got a reaction after the break and the equaliser was worth the wait. Tariqe Fosu did well, and when the ball fell to Janelt he lashed it into the far corner.
The Bees completed a gutsy turnaround in the 79th minute. A cross from Henrik Dalsgaard flicked off a defender at the near post and Toney showed his huge value with a predator’s finish.
Potters boss Michael O’neill said: “We got a gift to start with, which we took, and then didn’t let them out of their half much in the first half.
“It took a great goal to level things, and a good finish for the winner. We are missing strikers and you need those players in double figures.”
BRENTFORD: Raya 5; Dalsgaard 6, Reid 6, Pinnock 6, Sorensen 6; Fosu 6 (Canos 58, 6), Dasilva 5 (Jensen 58, 6), Janelt 7 (Norgaard 77, 6); Mbeumo 6, Toney 7, Ghoddos 6 (Marcondes 86). Subs not used: Daniels, Forss, Roerslev, Zamburek, Bidstrup.
STOKE CITY: Gunn 6; Smith 6, Chester 6 (Clarke 83), Batth 6, Souttar 6, Norrington-davies 6 (Tymon 46, 6); Allen 6, Thompson 6 (Cousins 46, 6), Mikel 6; Brown 7 (Vokes 84), Powell 6. Subs not used: Davies, Oakley-boothe, Forrester, Coates, Norton.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ivan Toney: Quiet for much of the match but again showed a priceless matchwinner’s instinct.
REFEREE: John Brooks 6.