The World Cup will be a very strange one this year, being bang in the middle of a domestic season and being played in the winter in the UK.
It won’t feel normal at all for those of us in this part of the world, but all the same, I am buzzing for it to start as I always am for every World Cup.
Sources: Chelsea monitoring Juventus midfielder, as well as Southampton goalkeeper!
The last one was in 2018, and ironically it was a competition where Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek shone in, right before he got his serious injury.
After that of course, he faded out a bit and really struggled to get his confidence and form back. However, in the last couple of seasons, especially this season so far, he has really started to prove that he is back to those 2018 levels once again. So much so that he is in for a shout for a last-minute spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad this winter.
Matt Law of The Telegraph writes: ‘Another player who could make a late run for Southgate’s squad is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who produced another impressive performance in Chelsea’s midfield against Aston Villa in front of Southgate.
‘The fact Loftus-Cheek has proven he can also fill in at right wing-back is another attraction and the 26-year-old is likely to be watched again by England staff before Southgate names his squad.
‘Chelsea face Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City before November 10, which could prove to be big games for Loftus-Cheek if he can start and impress in them.
‘Like [Joe] Gomez, Southgate already knows Loftus-Cheek well having taken him to Russia with England for the last World Cup.’
