R2018 was the year Ruben Loftus-Cheek finally established himself as a serious choice for Gareth Southgate’s England during 2018, and the midfielder reached his 10th cap at Wembley against USA on Thursday.
Last season saw Loftus-Cheek truly breakthrough as a senior player, establishing himself as a regular starter for Roy Hodgson while on loan at Crystal Palace.
Loftus-Cheek, 22, was a late selection for Southgate’s World Cup squad, with his first game that year coming in the June friendly against Nigeria, but since then he has cemented his place in the side, making an appearance in eight of the last 14 internationals.
The Chelsea player is strong physically and a boasts a sweet strike, as well as providing class and composure in the middle of the park, an area in which England are not spoiled for choice. Southgate’s decision to play 3-5-2 in Russia was largely based on his lack of central midfield options.
Loftus-Cheek has also begun to establish himself at Stamford Bridge for the first time, and looks set to smash his previous total number of games for Chelsea in a season (his largest was 17 in the 2015/16 season, and he’s already notched seven appearances so far this campaign).
Loftus-Cheek is not the only Englishman to thrive at Stamford Bridge however. Ross Barkley, signed for £15 million in January last year, has positively flourished under Maurizio Sarri. The Italian’s expansive and attacking style of play has seen a player like Barkley go from strength to strength, reigniting a career that many thought was long dead after so much early promise.
Barkley, 24, was once touted as the future of English football, and so far this season has proved he’s ready to try and pick up that mantle once more. Scoring three times in 11 Premier League games, Barkley has forced his way past a star-studded midfield straight into Chelsea’s first team; only Willian (19 appearances) has played more games than Barkley in all competitions so far this season.
His fine form at club level has seen a recall for England, with the midfielder playing his first games for the Three Lions in over two years. Barkley started in the 3-2 victory over Spain and the 0-0 Nations League draw with Croatia in October, and has put himself firmly back in Southgate’s plans for the future.
The pair are yet to start together for the Three Lions, but they would provide a drive and a dynamism that’s arguably lacking in the likes of Dier and Henderson. The creativity of Barkley and Loftus-Cheek, behind the attacking talent of Dele, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, or Marcus Rashford would be a real force to be reckoned with.
England’s next fixtures do not come now until late March, as club fixtures come thick and fast over the winter period. This will give Southgate plenty of time to assess his options, as he will begin to build a squad for Euro 2020, the final and semi-final of which is being held at Wembley.
While the Chelsea pair may run out of steam by March, or fall out of favour, they both appear to have the quality to maintain their good form and give Southgate a real selection headache.
They provide an attacking intent and quality that few of their countrymen can offer from the midfield, and represent a positivity in the style of play England can produce. While the Three Lions are producing young talent in all areas of the pitch, the future of England’s midfield does certainly look to be tinged with blue.
