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Three big questions: Chelsea Ruben Loftus-Cheek and recovery

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea FC looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Watford FC at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea FC looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Watford FC at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 14: (L-R) Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea warm up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on July 14, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 14: (L-R) Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea warm up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on July 14, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

3. Is Chelsea best suited to give him the playing time he needs to recover?

This is perhaps the most controversial thing to say about Loftus-Cheek, but it is a conversation that needs to be had. Many view Loftus-Cheek as the player he was before his injury. They believe he has an automatic spot in the starting XI. That may have been true before. It is not now.

Beyond the current players at the squad, Chelsea continues to reinforce. The battle for midfield starting spots (or even forward starting spots) will only get tighter. Loftus-Cheek was recovering this season as it is, but it would be hard to argue that he would have seen a great deal more minutes than he did when he returned to fitness.

Simply put, the only step Loftus-Cheek has left to take in his recovery is finding match fitness. Part of that is simply shaking off the rust. The other part of that is finding out the type of player he is now after his injury. Both will require him to play and play often. That simply is not close to a guarantee at Chelsea.

It will not be what many (or anyone really) wants to hear, but the best solution for Loftus-Cheek next season may be a loan. He simply has no chance of getting enough playing time with the Blues to get anywhere close to the player he was. Going out on loan, just for a season, would give him the opportunity to play his way into a new version of himself. He can then return and fight for a spot at Chelsea.

Would it be a step back? In a ways yes, but not an unprecedented one. Kurt Zouma also had to go off on loan to truly recover from injury and that took him over a year with two separate loans. Loftus-Cheek is already older and does not have that kind of time, but that is also a good reason why he can’t afford to fight for minutes at Chelsea.

A loan, while less than ideal overall, is perhaps the best way for Loftus-Cheek to move forward with his Chelsea career.

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What questions do you think need to be asked about Ruben Loftus-Cheek before next season? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

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