Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has called Ruben Loftus-Cheek “our player” and insists the midfielder, who is spending this season on loan at Fulham, has a long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
Loftus-Cheek missed most of last season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, having made 40 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea in the 2018/19 campaign.
Having returned to action primarily as a substitute in ‘Project Restart’ this summer, the loan to Fulham this season was aimed at bringing him up to speed in a competitive environment. But Chelsea have no plans to let him go when it’s over.
Lampard said he felt the Blues “missed” Loftus-Cheek last season when he was injured and that he was happy to see him regain his shape and form at Craven Cottage.
“When he was in shape I was excited because I know the attributes he has and wanted those attributes at the club,” Lampard explained, via ChelseaFC.com.
“The conversations I had with him earlier in the season were about how he wasn’t feeling as sharp or as good as he wanted because of a very serious injury, so it was about find out if he could go and play games because he felt he would have regular playing time elsewhere.
“Seeing him play recently, he looks fit, fresh and strong. We know his obvious talents so it’s great to see. If he can continue with hope throughout the season, and come back to exactly where he was and more, then I will be very happy and he will come back as a player for sure.
Loftus-Cheek have started six of Fulham’s last seven Premier League games improving. They are still in the relegation zone but have been unbeaten since December 5 and have taken points from Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham during that time.
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