Ruben Loftus-Cheek hopes Chelsea form earns England squad place for Uefa Nations League

Simon Johnson24 April 2019

Ruben Loftus-Cheek hopes his run in the Chelsea first team will help secure a place in the England squad for the climax of the Uefa Nations League in June.

Loftus-Cheek, who has 10 England caps, missed out on playing for the national team last month after pulling out with an injury.

England won both Euro 2020 qualifiers comfortably in his absence, scoring 10 goals. It meant his chances of a call-up this summer were in doubt, especially as he was also a fringe member of Chelsea’s side.

But Loftus-Cheek has overtaken England team-mate Ross Barkley in Chelsea’s pecking order, starting the club’s last four League games.

With Chelsea having three high profile League matches to secure a place in the top four as well as a Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, the 23-year-old is looking to catch the attention of England coach Gareth Southgate.

He said: “I am focussed on the now and hoping (for England) in the future. The way you get in the England squad is doing well for your club.

“England is a by-product of what you’re doing. My focus is all on Chelsea and playing well when I get the opportunity. If you do well, you have every chance of being called up to England.”

Southgate’s side have a chance of winning only their second major trophy. They face Holland in the semi-final on June 6, with a potential final being against Portugal or Switzerland three days later.

Meanwhile, the Chelsea youth product is optimistic more academy products can become part of the senior squad at Stamford Bridge.

Loftus-Cheek, Andreas Christensen and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has had an operation on a ruptured Achilles and faces months on the sidelines, have increasingly featured in the second half of the campaign.

The Blues are still waiting to hear if their appeal against FIFA’s two window transfer ban is being delayed or overturned.

As things stand they can’t recruit in the summer, so more of their talented youngsters that have been sent away on loan are being considered for roles next term.

Loftus-Cheek added: “Through the years Chelsea have brought through real talent, you can see it with Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount doing so well on loan.

“There are so many that can play for Chelsea. Hopefully in the next few years we will see a team with some academy products.”

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