Ruben Loftus Cheek joked he has a 100 per cent goals to shots ratio with Chelsea after he helped fire the Blues through to the next round of the FA Cup.
The powerful England youth international midfielder came off the bench at half time and marked his first FA Cup appearance with a 68th-minute goal, one he tucked into the bottom corner with aplomb. It was his first shot on target for the first team and his first goal.
“It was a really nice moment,” he said in a post-match interview with BT Sport. “I am really happy with that and to play for 45 minutes. I’m 100 per cent now and I’ll try to keep that going.”
Loftus Cheek’s goal broke the stubborn resistance of Scunthorpe who had given Chelsea a few anxious moments after Diego Costa had fired the home side in front after 12 minutes.
“It was a real battle,” said Loftus Cheek who got stuck into the midfield battle as soon as he came on. “They came here with massive motivation and we had to match that. If we matched them then our quality would come through.”
The appearance today was Loftus Cheek’s first under Guus Hiddink and his first minutes in a first-team shirt since the end of November.
“I’m really pleased to play for him [Hiddink],” he said. “He’s a nice man and a good manager.”
Glenn Hoddle, who knows a thing or two about the art of midfield play, was impressed with what he saw from the 19-year-old.
“He looks a really good talent and he finished his goal with aplomb,” said Hoddle.
