Ruben Loftus-Cheek glad he left Chelsea for Crystal Palace as loan star celebrates England call-up after making his mark in Premier League

  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek is on loan at Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson
  • Niggling injuries have disrupted the 21-year-old's start to the season
  • The midfielder has only featured for England's Under 21s in his career
  • But he could be set for a full debut in the international break coming up 
  • Gareth Southgate's side face Germany and Brazil in friendlies at Wembley

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is sure his decision to leave Chelsea on loan for Crystal Palace has paid dividends with his call into the England squad.

There has been little to celebrate at Palace so far this season with only one win from the first 11 Premier League games.

Frank de Boer, the manager who signed Loftus-Cheek, has been dismissed and niggling injuries disrupted his start to the season but the 21-year-old midfielder is back in the team under Roy Hodgson.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (No 8) is now a regular for Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (No 8) is now a regular for Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson

The 21-year-old midfielder played in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Tottenham at Wembley

The 21-year-old midfielder played in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Tottenham at Wembley

Loftus-Cheek, pictured in Under-21s duty during Euro 2017, has been called up for England's friendlies against Brazil and Germany during the international break

Loftus-Cheek, pictured in Under-21s duty during Euro 2017, has been called up for England's friendlies against Brazil and Germany during the international break

He has started seven games and been rewarded with a call from Gareth Southgate for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil, both at Wembley Stadium. 


'That's why I came away from Chelsea, to get game-time,' said Loftus-Cheek. 'That is the most important thing for me at the moment.

'Experience, fitness, just getting used to playing in the Premier League week-in, week out. That's what I am getting.

'It's been a difficult start for me, two games and then an injury, which I guess is a result of not playing for so long in the first place.

'This period is a transformation period for me. Just getting my body used to it and kicking on.'

Loftus-Cheek reports for duty with the England senior team for the first time, where he hopes to revive his successful partnership with Southgate, having won the Toulon Under-21 Tournament together in the summer of 2016.

'I've worked with Gareth for three years in the Under 21s and he's a really good manager,' said Loftus-Cheek. 'I'm looking forward to working with him. We've won tournaments together: me and him and Steve Holland. 

'He's very good with people, players and he treats everyone the same. What you see is what you get with him.

'He also demands standards in training and that is why I think he does so well.'

The Chelsea academy graduate had struggled to break into their starting XI since 2014

The Chelsea academy graduate had struggled to break into their starting XI since 2014

Loftus-Cheek was at home when the England call came and caught him by surprise.

'I was like "what's going on here",' he said. 'It was a really good moment for me and my family but you cannot linger on it for too long.

'I have got to work hard and knuckle down. I am very happy but at the same time I have still got to work hard.

'I hope to play but we'll see what happens. I'm a newcomer so I am not expecting anything. All I can do is train well and see what happens. Hopefully I can do well.' 

Loftus-Cheek, who has played regularly for England through the youth ranks, had an early glimpse of Wembley as he played 90 minutes in the Palace midfield as they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham on Sunday. 

The Eagles loanee scored his first goal for England's Under 21s against Denmark back in March

The Eagles loanee scored his first goal for England's Under 21s against Denmark back in March

'It was hard to take,' said Loftus-Cheek. 'We knew Tottenham were going to have most of the possession and we would have to defend hard and we did that for a long period of the game.

'There are positives to take. Our confidence is building and we're definitely improving. We have a good chance of getting some points in that period after the international break.

'We take it game by game. That is the best way to do it and look to improve.'

Palace have a run of eight games before Christmas against teams outside the Premier League's 'big six' which will define their chances of escaping the drop.

They are at home against Everton, Stoke, Bournemouth and Watford, with away games at Brighton, West Brom, Leicester and Swansea.

By the time they go to Arsenal on December 28, Hodgson will have a good idea of his survival chances.