Frank Lampard has revealed Ruben Loftus Cheek is training with Chelsea’s Under 16s as he steps up his recovery from a long-term Achilles injury.
The 23-year-old underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a friendly against New England Revolution in May and previously revealed he had to learn how to walk again.
Loftus-Cheek is now edging closer to a return to first team action with Lampard hopeful he will be ready for the intensity of first-team training after the international break.
“He is training now with the U16s,” said Lampard. “He’ll train with the U18s, progressing to the U23s in a pretty short space of time. The sooner that he can be back with us training, the better.
"But with the injury for a long time it is standard that you bring him through the academy. We are working every day. But there is a different look on Ruben’s face, more smiley and happy, which I absolutely understand.
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“The good thing about him is he is not one to walk around with his head down or create a negative atmosphere, but it is just a lonely place. That is for everyone. He is integrating more towards us now which is great, but with the lad that he is, he could be easily forgotten from the outside that we have missed a hugely influential player for us.
“And hopefully we will get him back, and if we get him back after the break, he might need some competitive games because of the nature of the injury. But he might not be far away.”
