Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted that he is finding it "tough" to get to grips with being a bit-part player at the club this season.
Loftus-Cheek shone while on loan at Crystal Palace last season and was a regular starter in the Premier League as he earned a place in England's World Cup squad.
However, the 22-year-old is yet to start a top-flight game for Chelsea this season and has featured for just 119 minutes in the Premier League despite scoring five goals in just nine appearances across all competitions.
Reports have linked Loftus-Cheek with a move away from Stamford Bridge either in January or at the end of the season, but the England international insists that he is solely focused on Chelsea at the moment.
"Every player goes through tough times. From playing a lot to not playing a lot is tough. I have a good family and friends who help me when times are tough which is always good for me. Also I am strong individually to know what I want in the future. I will always believe I will get to where I want if I keep my head down," Loftus-Cheek is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
"I try not to think too much about the future. I can't think that far ahead [to the end of the season], I can only think about what's happening right now. It is a difficult period coming up where we have to be fully focused. There's loads of games so loads of rotation, so we all need to be ready physically and mentally for this.
"My head right now is on playing for Chelsea and learning Sarri's way. When I get the opportunity to play I have got to do my best and to try and make stuff happen but also do what the manager asks me to do defensively. Me scoring goals is looking good at the moment. I look to improve on that — I always try to see myself as a goal scoring midfielder. Hopefully I can build on this run."
Newcastle United, West Ham United, Bournemouth and Schalke 04 are among the clubs thought to be monitoring Loftus-Cheek's situation.
Barney Corkhill
