Ruben Loftus-Cheek is not immediately in Maurizio Sarri’s first team plans.
The midfield man has made two Premier League appearances for the Blues this season, but both have come from the substitutes’ bench.
But crucially he has played more minutes in an England shirt (61) than he has done in the blue of (33).
Many expected the 22-year-old to get some more action as Chelsea kick-off their Europa League campaign away at PAOK Salonika tomorrow night, but that does not look like being the case.
And Blues manager Maurizio Sarri’s comments will come as a huge frustration to the young England star who starred last season on loan with Crystal Palace.
Sarri was asked about Loftus-Cheek’s involvement in the Europa League and the Italian said: “Loftus-Cheek for me is a very good player but I don’t know if there is a spot for him. Of course there will be a spot for him in the future.
And Blues manager Maurizio Sarri’s comments will come as a huge frustration to the young England star who starred last season on loan with Crystal Palace.
Sarri was asked about Loftus-Cheek’s involvement in the Europa League and the Italian said: “Loftus-Cheek for me is a very good player but I don’t know if there is a spot for him. Of course there will be a spot for him in the future.
“Now it is very difficult because in the first part of the season it is very important to play with possibly the same players just to have a very solid team but I have to change four or five players but it is impossible to change in this moment of the season to change 11 players in the match.”
And when asked about the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Sarri suggested that the pair, and Loftus-Cheek, were not ready for the first team at Stamford Bridge just yet.
He added: “For Odoi I don’t know. In this position I am also in the last match played Pedro and Hazard but I have also players like Willian, Moses and so I don’t know if it is time for Odoi or somebody else.
“In the future there will be sure it is possible for him but Ampadu, Odoi, Loftus they are the future of the squad but now we are 28 so I don’t know if it is the right time for Odoi.”