Loftus-Cheek suffers ‘setbacks’ in recovery from injury

Frank Lampard has admitted that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has had “a few setbacks” in his recovery from injury and Chelsea do not know when the midfielder is likely to return to action.

Loftus-Cheek suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon towards the end of last season – just as he seemed to have finally established himself as a Chelsea first-team regular.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has made a strong return from a similar injury but Loftus-Cheek’s comeback is not proving to be as smooth.

“He’s had a few setbacks over the last two months,” Blues boss Lampard said. “He’s not had a new one, but it’s not flying along as much as we would want.

“It’s not for the want of trying, from everybody and Ruben himself of course. There’s nothing worse than being injured.

“But at the moment we’re no closer to him being fit.”