HIDDINK’S PUSHING RUBEN T0 THE LIMIT
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK can become an integral player for Chelsea next season once he gains from the pain of regularly playing 90 minutes, according to manager Guus Hiddink. The 20-year-old scored his first Premier League goal in the 4-0 stroll at Aston Villa, completing his first full top-flight game. Hiddink, who wants to use the run-in to blood youngsters, said: ‘Normally Ruben is substituted after an hour, but we let him go on and suffer a bit. He felt a bit of cramp, but I told him, “Come on guy, it’s good for you”. ‘It’s good for English football having these guys. When you have an academy like Chelsea have, you must give the young players a chance to step up. That is what we are doing now in the second part of this season.’ Matt Miazga, the 20-year-old defender bought from New York Red Bulls in January, was given his Chelsea debut and coped well. But Hiddink advised the American to become more streetwise. ‘He’s come from a league where it is a bit naive,’ said Hiddink. ‘He has to cope with a little bit of shuffle and pushing, where in other leagues the referees might give free kicks.’ With relegation looming, Villa caretaker boss Eric Black is also thinking about giving youngsters experience, but fears it could be counter-productive to put them in front of the furious fans. ‘It’s a dilemma,’ Black said. ‘Are the young players ready for that kind of atmosphere?’