Since the scoreless draw with Bosnia on Thursday, England U21s boss Gareth Southgate has expressed his confidence in Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s development.
The nineteen-year-old has arguably been Southgate’s best player throughout his side’s race to Euro 2017 qualification. However, in Sarajevo last week, Loftus-Cheek received a beating from a tough Bosnia team.
Southgate was livid with the way his midfielder was clattered into throughout the match. The Bosnian players looked to mark Loftus-Cheek tightly, get physical with him, and give him as little time on the ball as possible.
Southgate said,
He [Loftus-Cheek] was treated severely in the first couple of challenges, but there were no yellow cards. But he kept trying to play and kept trying to do the right things. It was difficult to pass or run with the ball, so for any type of technical game it was impossible.
Loftus-Cheek, who is still a teenager until January, has burst onto the footballing scene in the last year due to his inclusion in the Chelsea first team. He is one for the future who many, including Southgate, believe possesses a huge amount of promise.
We think, like a couple of others, he is a player of high potential. It is just giving him time to develop. We have to work out what is going to be his best position. But there is a huge amount of potential there, absolutely. He is a really exciting player.
The Chelsea youngster is a versatile midfielder, and it remains to be seen what midfield role will bring the best out of him. Southgate said,
He is playing as a number ten for us and that gives us a goal threat and drive. There is a bit less for him to think of defensively, but I am sure that he could play as a number eight. I’m sure all those things will drop into place when he gets more matches.
Loftus-Cheek and the England Under-21s take on Switzerland in an important match tomorrow in Brighton. Kickoff from the American Express Community Stadium is 6:45 p.m. GMT.
