Jose Mourinho praises Ruben Loftus-Cheek's "evolution"

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has expressed his belief that midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek should be 'protected' during the remaining weeks of the Premier League campaign.

Loftus-Cheek has featured on the Chelsea bench on a number of occasions, making two substitute appearances against Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City, but Mourinho had indicated that the 19-year-old is in his first-team plans for next season

The 52-year-old told reporters: "I think he will be a player to compete for a position. Now is the moment to protect him.

"If in this moment we were sixth or seventh, he would play, but Ruben is a player I expect to compete for a place in the team next season, his evolution is superb."

Loftus-Cheek is also a regular part of England's Under-19 setup.