RUBEN'S LOFTY U.S. AMBITION

RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK says his World Cup dream helped keep him going during his seven-year England absence.

- BY JOHN CROSS

AC Milan star Loftus-Cheek made his long-awaited return as a substitute against Wales and that has sparked his ambition to play in the United States next summer.

Loftus-Cheek had been out in the cold from the England setup since 2018, until Thomas Tuchel gave him a shock recall last month, and then he got a chance as a substitute at Wembley on Thursday night.

It has been a long road back for Loftus-Cheek, who was a big part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad in 2018, but injuries have been a huge frustration in recent years.