The decision for Chelsea to play a post-season friendly against New England Revolution last May was one which was heavily criticised.
The match itself was arranged with good intentions – to help battle against the scourge of antisemitism – but the timing of the fixture was not ideal. Arranged between the final league game of 2019 and the Europa League final against Arsenal, it was viewed as an unnecessary risk. Such fears came to pass when midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon – ruling him out not only of the final in Baku but for the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign to date.
The 24-year-old would have been an ideal candidate to be a regular under Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge this season – fitting the profile of a young, English player who had come through the club’s youth system and showed signs of notable development.
But it is not too late for Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea. His loan spell at Crystal Palace in 2017/18 acted as his breakthrough campaign at the top level and he made 40 appearances under Maurizio Sarri the following campaign. Should he be able to recover fully from his injury layoff, he will likely play a big role under Lampard whenever football resumes.
The break was good news for Loftus-Cheek primarily as it has allowed him more time to go through his recovery process and be ready to return to first-team training and action as soon as football resumes. But it may also be a very different Blues squad that he returns to. The future of a number of the club’s current first-team stars is under question.
The make-up of the midfield setup has changed significantly, with Kovacic and Billy Gilmour now pressing their own respective claims for roles in Lampard’s strongest midfield, alongside N’Golo Kante or Jorginho. Kante has been linked with a move away from the club but it appears unlikely at this stage that the Frenchman would leave Stamford Bridge, particularly at times of such uncertainty with regards the transfer window.
While there are persistent rumours that Jorginho may return to Italian football. Signed by Sarri, it is thought that Lampard may want more dynamism in the middle of the pitch – something Loftus-Cheek can bring.
Elsewhere, Ross Barkley’s form remains inconsistent and, while it’s been an auspicious debut season for Mason Mount in the first-team setup, his role is not fully cemented in the lineup, leaving room potentially open for Loftus-Cheek to stake a claim for first-team involvement on his return. Chelsea look set to qualify for the Champions League next season and the squad continues to look hungry and fresh.
Seeing his former academy teammates growing into Chelsea stars under Lampard, Loftus-Cheek has said: “Honestly I am so excited, I can’t wait to play with them and share the pitch with them.” There’s still a long journey to go on his road back to being the player he was beginning to demonstrate at times last season. But when football returns, Loftus-Cheek’s wish may become a reality.