Maurizio Sarri has revealed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a doubt for Monday night’s game against West Ham, stating that the English midfielder “needs time” after the Blues demolished Brighton 3-0 on Wednesday.
Sarri further stated that the club are checking on Loftus-Cheek’s back on a daily basis, revealing that “this morning he [RLC] had a recovery session” and that “he probably cannot play 90 minutes” having been replaced on Wednesday because of cramp in his hamstring.
The Italian went on to praise the midfielder’s tactical improvements this season, saying that the player had started the season as a good offensive midfielder but that he is now complete.
The emergence of Loftus-Cheek as a central figure in Sarri’s plans will come as welcome news to the Stamford Bridge faithful, with the midfielder having been limited in his minutes in the current campaign having shone on loan at Crystal Palace in 2017/18 and consequently appearing for England at the World Cup in Russia.
The Englishman has played 561 minutes of Premier League football in 2018/19, scoring five goals and registering one assist, alongside scoring an infamous hat-trick in the Europa League against BATE Borisov.
If Loftus-Cheek is out for a sustained period, it will signal a major blow to Sarri and Chelsea as the pressure beings to ramp up in the race for Champions League qualification, with the club sitting 5th on 63 points with six games to play.
