Sam Allardyce has urged Ruben Loftus-Cheek to be selfish and leave Chelsea for the sake of his career.
Loftus-Cheek came away with a man-of-the-match performance in the Blues’ 3-1 victory over BATE Borisov at the Europa League after netting his first-ever hat-trick. Yet while the England midfielder has steadfastly declared his plan to fight for a place in Maurizio Sarri’s squad, Thursday night’s victory was only his fourth appearance of the campaign for the west London club.
The 22-year-old is one of the very few Blues youth players to make the step up into the senior team but while he impressed last year in a season-long loan with Crystal Palace – a fruitful spell that got him on the England plane to the World Cup in Russia – he has found playing time hard to come by under the Italian manager.
In a radio interview, the England midfielder’s situation was talked about by former Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce, who declared that Loftus-Cheek must now become selfish and leave Stamford Bridge for the sake of his playing career.
“I love him, but unfortunately he hasn’t managed to break in at the beginning of the season, and it’s a shame,” said Allardyce. “It’s time for him to be selfish, it’s time for him to be selfish for his own career.
“This lad obviously loves Chelsea because he was prepared to stay and fight for his place this year, after such fantastic season with Crystal Palace and at the World Cup where he made an impact.”
“He’s tasted first team football on a regular basis and has tasted international football, but he was left out of the last England squad.
“I think as a young man that’s a massive blow to your career and development.
“So as much as Chelsea want to keep him, it might be time for him to say, ‘I’ve given all I can give to try and get into the Chelsea side. Please, if you get the right offer and it’s the right club for me, let me move on and forge my career somewhere else.’”
