Ruben Loftus-Cheek admitted he had almost stopped thinking about representing his country after nearly seven years without an appearance for England.
The midfielder’s last outing came in a friendly with the United States in November 2018, months after being part of Gareth Southgate’s squad that reached the semi-finals at the World Cup in Russia.
In 2019, while still at Chelsea, he suffered a serious Achilles injury during a warm-up game in the United States before the Europa League final. The setback removed him from the international picture and left him facing a long road to recovery.
Now 29, Loftus-Cheek signed for AC Milan in 2023 and has since featured 71 times across all competitions, contributing 11 goals and three assists.
Recovery and mental strength
Looking back, he said the rupture came at a time when he felt at the peak of his form. The aftermath, he explained, was difficult mentally, though his age gave him confidence that he still had time to recover.
The midfielder revealed that it took close to two years before he truly felt like himself again on the pitch. He stressed the importance of both personal determination and support from those around him.
Loftus-Cheek admitted he grew accustomed to being absent from England duty and instead became “a fan” of the team. Even so, he never stopped pushing at club level in the hope that an opportunity might come again.
Working under Tuchel and versatility
England manager Thomas Tuchel previously coached Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea and often deployed him in unusual roles. At first resistant to playing as a wing-back, the midfielder eventually adapted and also featured as a central defender and in midfield.
He said Tuchel valued his strength and tactical flexibility, which could be an asset in international tournaments. Since joining Milan, he has been positioned higher up the pitch, closer to the striker, while under Tuchel he regularly operated in deeper areas.
Loftus-Cheek added that being able to perform in multiple roles increases his chances of contributing to the squad. He expressed readiness to play anywhere on the field if called upon.
England faces two World Cup qualifiers in the current break, meeting Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday before travelling to Serbia next week.
