Not in Antonio Conte’s first-team plans and desperate for minutes, Ruben Loftus-Cheek left Chelsea for Crystal Palace on a season-long loan back in the summer of 2017.
A midfielder blessed with both physical strength and technical skill, Loftus-Cheek’s arrival at Selhurst Park was one that was met well by supporters.
CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND CONFIRMED
— (@paIacejosh) July 12, 2017
Welcome Ruben to #CPFC
Looking forward to seeing you in the red & blue of Palace. Embrace the challenge & enjoy your football fella— Mark Ross (@BeerFootyBirds) July 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/RoDuSu/status/885099874643042309
You can take the boy out of South London but you can’t take South London out of the boy!
Welcome home Ruben! #PrideOfSouthLondon— Mark Ross (@BeerFootyBirds) July 12, 2017
The first of many exciting signings for ambitious Palace who are going to be a threat this season.
COYP CPFC— Hdeagle08 (@hdeagle08) July 12, 2017
Good signing.Liking De Boar already.
— Stuart’JP’Osmond (@StuartOsmond) July 12, 2017
WE’VE WON THE LEAGUE!!!
— James (@94_Gravity) July 12, 2017
THE LEAGUE IS OURS
— 12th FC (@standinthesun) July 12, 2017
And once taking to the pitch, it was not hard to see why. The 23-year-old instantly showed that strength and skill he has on the ball as he continued to grow game by game.
Injuries at Selhurst Park, however, would restrict the amount of matches he played during his loan spell with the Eagles. While when he was fit enough to feature, Roy Hodgson often played him out of position on the left flank.
No complaints, though, from the Chelsea man who still managed to flaunt his stuff despite not playing in his preferred midfield role.
Loftus-Cheek has since returned to Stamford Bridge and, it must be said, as a much better player. The Chelsea academy product has matured significantly as a footballer due to getting real minutes during his stint at Crystal Palace and possibly from his experience at last year’s World Cup with the England national team, too.
The England international is now ready to be a regular starter at Chelsea and should have probably been used more by Maurizio Sarri by this point of the season.
For both the Blues and Crystal Palace, Loftus-Cheek has brought so much to the team whenever he has played.
