MAKING UP FOR LOFT TIME

Ruben no longer haunted by past after seven years in the wilderness

- By Jeremy Cross

RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK has no intention of pining for his lost years as an England international.

Instead of being filled with regrets, he has made peace with what could have been.

Loftus-Cheek is determined to focus on what could still be, when it comes to pulling on a Three Lions shirt.

He had the football world at his feet back in 2018 when he was part of the England squad that reached the World Cup semifinals in Moscow.

But that world then collapsed, culminating in the midfielder rupturing his Achilles in a meaningless postseason friendly between Chelsea and New England Revolution in the USA.

The crushing blow saw him miss Chelsea's Europa League final victory against Arsenal later that month, before enduring a long and painful road back to fitness.

Despite all his problems Loftus-Cheek never imagined it would be seven years before he found himself back in the England squad.