Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek should stay at Chelsea and fight for his place.
Loftus-Cheek was determined to establish himself as a first-team player at Stamford Bridge this season after impressing while on loan at Crystal Palace last term.
But he has been overlooked by Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and faces stiff competition for a place, with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley, Jorginho and Cesc Fabregas also available to Sarri.
Many pundits have suggested Loftus-Cheek should seek a move in January, with former England boss Sam Allardyce among those to have called for the player to make a fresh start elsewhere.
But Essien, who made 168 Premier League appearances during his eight and a half years as a Chelsea player, disagrees. He thinks Loftus-Cheek should stay put.
“I mean he has to stay,” Essien told the Evening Standard.
“When you play for a club like Chelsea, you know the competition will always be there and you have to work hard to win your position.
“They have many midfielders but it’s all down to him. He’s such a good boy and he works hard.
“Maybe he might want to play more first-team football and games but he has to stay and work hard and you never know – football changes very quickly and he might get his chance.”