Roy Hodgson says that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will always be welcome at Crystal Palace ahead of their visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Loftus-Cheek spent last season on loan with the Eagles and excelled in Hodgson’s midfield, receiving a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad as a result.
Since returning to Stamford Bridge, however, the midfielder has found it tough to break into Maurizio Sarri’s side, despite the Chelsea boss confirming he remains in his first-team plans.
Loftus-Cheek played frequently for the Eagles last season and played his part at the aforementioned World Cup in the summer, but he has yet to be rewarded with a regular place in Chelsea’s starting line-up due to the heavy competition in his position.
• 5 shots
• 4 on target
• 3 goalsRuben Loftus-Cheek has been working on one of his weaknesses.
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If Loftus-Cheek grows tired of the rat race at Stamford Bridge he will always be welcome at Selhurst Park for as long as Hodgson is in the dugout.
“I said to him ‘Don’t forget, there’s always a place for you here; if you are moving on we’d love to have you back, but I’m now expecting you to go to Russia to do extremely well for England and I’m expecting Chelsea to welcome you back with open arms, I’ll be surprised if you come back here, but you know you’re always welcome’,” Hodgson told Sky Sports.
“That’s how we left it, and I think that’s what he hoped to hear from me, and expected.
Hodgson says he will be happy to see Loftus-Cheek on Sunday, as well as Ross Barkley and Gary Cahill who he coached during his time as England manager.
“I’ll be happy to see him, whether he plays or not. If you wish people well you shouldn’t really wish for them to be dropped from the team, but I’ll be happy to see him, happy to see Ross Barkley, and happy to see Gary Cahill, who even captained England during my time there.
“That’s three people I’ve had close working relationships with I’ll be pleased to see again, and fearful of the qualities they’ll bring to the game.”
Hodgson added that it would have been nice to keep Loftus-Cheek at the club partly because the midfielder is from south-east London. Hodgson also said he understands why Chelsea have elected to keep him at the club and not release him on loan.
Despite a lack of serious game time, the 22-year-old has scored more goals this season than he has ever managed in a single campaign in senior football.
A Europa League hat-trick was enough to do so, but Loftus-Cheek then doubled his previous season’s best in the following game by scoring as a substitute against Southampton having replaced the injured Pedro.
The post Chelsea’s Loftus-Cheek will always be welcome at Crystal Palace, admits Hogdson appeared first on Squawka News.
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