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Chelsea midfielder Loftus-Cheek not giving up World Cup hopes

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek says earning a place in Gareth Southgate's England World Cup squad "would mean the world".

Loftus-Cheek, 26, played for England at the 2018 World Cup but has not added to his 10 caps since rupturing his Achilles in May 2019.

"I always felt I could [get back] so I have tried to stay positive," he said.

Loftus-Cheek spent more than a year out of the game after suffering his Achilles injury playing in a friendly against Boston in America.

He did not feature for Chelsea again until June 2020 and went on to play the following season on loan at Fulham.

"This is the most I have played for Chelsea, consistently, which is another positive," said the academy graduate, who has made 14 appearances this season.

"As a young player going to the 2018 World Cup you see your trajectory going [up] and to obviously be at the next World Cup, if all goes well."

Speaking before Chelsea's Champions League game at RB Salzburg on Tuesday, he added: "A lot has happened in that time and I am just happy and grateful to be fit and healthy and playing football now, consistently.

"That's all I can ask for, and if I go to the World Cup on the back of what I am doing now, it would mean the world to me, but that is not at the forefront of my mind at the moment."

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